Nasser Al Attiyah increases Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge lead

1.1703937-3168825899 — Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah extended his overall cars lead in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan. Image Credit: Organiser

Abu Dhabi: Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah extended his overall cars lead in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan on Monday, while Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla grabbed a slender advantage in a fascinating bikes tussle between three of the world’s top riders.

Accompanied by French co-driver Mathieu Baumel in a new Toyota Hilux, Al Attiyah won the 279-kilometre Nissan Patrol Stage to increase his overnight advantage to 10 minutes and 21 seconds over Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi and German co-driver Timo Gotschalk in a Mini All4Racing.

Russia’s Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov maintained their hopes of a third successive Desert Challenge triumph in a Mini by climbing one place to third, although at 13 mins 30 secs off the pace will surely require Al Attiyah to find problems in order to achieve the hat-trick.

On a day when scattered showers and wind gave the Desert Challenge an unusual look and feel, Polish drivers Jakub Przygonski and Marek Dabrowski followed by four-time WRC runner-up Mikko Hirvonen of Finland completed the top six.

After having to replace the gearbox on his Abu Dhabi Racing Mini before the start of the stage, the UAE’s Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi was unable to improve on his ninth place overall from the previous day.

The retirement of eight-times Desert Challenge winner Marc Coma has guaranteed that there will be a new bikes champion this time, and a fascinating contest is developing between three of the world’s top riders to decide the outcome.

Overnight leader Toby Price finished the day in third place behind Quintanilla and Dubai-based British rider Sunderland, but the leading trio are separated by just 2mins 48secs after powering their way through the stage almost within touching distance of each other at times.

It was a good day for leading Emirati rider Mohammad Al Baloushi, who climbed three places to finish the leg in fourth place. Talented Spanish woman rider Laia Sanz moved up two positions to seventh, while Desert Challenge regular Dave McBride ended the leg in ninth place.

“The Nissan Patrol stage is always one of the most testing in the Desert Challenge, and today was no different,” said Mohammad Bin Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club, the rally organisers. “This was cross-country desert rallying at its best.”

After the top 10 riders had set off on the Nissan Patrol stage at normal two-minute intervals, the remaining 29 bikes featured in a spectacular mass start in two waves, before the cars followed them onto a competitive section, which lived up to its reputation as one of the most demanding.

Reaching the finish, a happy Al Attiyah said: “It was a very difficult stage, needing a lot of concentration on the dunes and there were some very sharp ones. Driving the new car in the sand dunes was a very good experience. The Toyota is working very well, despite having less torque than the Mini. Today I gave 100 per cent and I’m very happy to finish with such a lead.”

Defending champion Vasilyev said: “It was a good stage, very sandy but not too hot. The visibility was tough and there were some very difficult dunes. I lost a little time, maybe five minutes minimum, but we pushed a lot and found the steeper dunes more difficult 50km from the end.”

Shaikh Khalid said: “It was a tough day with some sections having many dunes with blind drops. One caught us and we almost rolled. I hurt my neck so after that I backed off completely.”

Taking place under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western region, the 26th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the national motorsport authority.

Leading positions after Nissan Patrol Stage 2 (Provisional)

Cars

1. Nasser Al Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (QAT / FRA) Toyota Hilux 7:24.14

2. Yazeed Al Rajhi / Timo Gotschalk (KSA / DEU) Mini All4 Racing 7:34.35

3. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / RUS) Mini All4 Racing 7:37.44

4. Jakub Przygonski / Tom Colsoul (POL / BEL) Mini All4 Racing 7:39.03

5. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL) Toyota Hilux 7:47.42

6. Mikko Hirvonen / Michel Perin (FIN / FRA) Mini All4 Racing 7:54.48

7. Bryce Menzies / Andreas Schulz (USA / DEU) Mini All4 Racing 7:55.57

8. Mathieu Serradori / Didier Haquette (FRA / FAR) Buggy 7:58.40

9. Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi / Khalid Al Kendi (ARE /ARE) Mini All4 Racing 8:01.54

10. Nunzio Coffaro / Daniel Meneses (VEN / VEN) 8:42.04