Abu Dhabi: UAE-based Lebanese driver Emil Khneisser is looking to get his FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup season under way at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge from April 2-7. The six-day event marks round two of the 10-stage series.
Last year, Khneisser and his Russian co-driver Alexei Kuzmich finished second in the format’s T2 category for series production cross-country vehicles, behind Kazakhstan’s Denis Berezovskiy, but Khneisser is now looking to go one better in his Nissan Patrol Y62.
“I am more confident than ever for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge,” he said. “It is my home race and the place where I have fine-tuned the car over two successful years of racing.”
Khneisser got in some useful pre-FIA World Cup testing at last week’s Ha’il Nissan International Rally in Saudi Arabia. He was in fifth position before a transmission issue scuppered his push for the podium.
At the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, he now faces some of the world’s finest cross-country drivers who have made a name for themselves in both the Dakar Rally and the FIA World Rally Championship.
Russia’s Aleksandr Terentyev currently leads Khneisser’s division after round one of the series in Russia last month with 25 points, ahead of next placed Pietro Fogliani of Italy on 18 points.
