Przygonski and Mare lead the way in Dubai dunes

Dubai: Polish driver Jakub Przygonski and UAE-based South African rider Aaron Mare set the pace on the first leg of the Dubai International Baja powered by Nissan and AW Rostamani today while home favourite Shaikh Khalid Al Qasimi was a major casualty in the Al Qudra desert.

Partnered by Belgian co-driver Tom Colsoul in a Mini John Cooper, Przygonski won the opening day’s 174km special stage by 2 mins 6 secs from Russians Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov in another Mini in the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

Saudi Arabia’s Yasir Hamed Seaidan with Russian co-driver Aleksei Kuzmich were third fastest another 3 mins 37 secs away in their Toyota Hilux.

But there was disaster for top seeded Shaikh Khalid and French co-driver Xavier Panseri as their Peugeot Abu Dhabi Racing Team 3008 DKR went out with mechanical failure just 70kms into the stage.

With Czechs Martin Prokop and Jan Tomanek fourth fastest in a Ford F-150 Evo, the UAE’s Mansour Al Helei and Khalid Al Kendi in a Nissan pick-up and Thomas Bell with Patrick McMurren in a Nissan Navara completed the top six. Lying ninth overall in a Polaris RZR, Ukrainian Vadym Prytuliak led the buggies category and was on course for a second successive Dubai Baja title.

In the battle of the bikes, Mare grabbed a 32-sec first-leg lead from Kuwait’s Mohammad Jaffar in the first round of this year’s FIM Bajas World Cup, despite a crash which left him nursing sore wrists.

French rider Benjamin Melot, last year’s runner-up, is another 1 min 37 secs away in third place.

Top-seeded UAE rider Mohammad Al Beloushi was fourth fastest on the day a further 1 mins 2 secs adrift, with his brother Sultan and Italian Manuel Lucchese completing the top six.

Aiming for a successful quads title defence in Dubai, Kuwait’s Fahad Al Musallam made the perfect start on his Yamaha 700 Raptor, opening up a 14 mins 49 secs lead over Russian rider Aleksandr Maksimov on another Yamaha.

Przygonski, runner-up in last year’s FIA World Cup series, completed the AW Rostamani Arabian Automobiles Special Stage 1 to say: “It was a really fast stage in the dunes. I pushed hard and passed three cars [Prokop, Shaikh Khalid and Vasilyev]. It was easy terrain, some soft sand and dunes, but no major issues.”

Vasilyev, who scored back-to-back victories in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2014-15, now needs a big effort if he is to secure a third World Cup rally triumph in the UAE, although Przygonski can afford no mistakes or mishaps.

Mohammad Bin Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE (UAEATC) and FIA Vice-President for Sport, said: “We’ve had a very interesting first day and no one can afford to relax because anything can happen in cross-country rallying.”

Seaidan, fifth overall in last year’s FIA World Cup standings and fifth in Russia recently, said: “It was a great drive and the terrain was good with no problem. The car is running perfectly.”

Prokop added: “We made one mistake near the beginning and got stuck on a dune but generally felt good about the race.”

It was certainly not a fully comfortable day for bikes leader Mare following his spill:

“It was really good apart from a big crash coming off a dune,” he said. “I hurt both wrists. The second part was fast with steep dunes and a lot of concentration needed.”

Second-placed Jaffar said: “I had an amazing day. The route was nice and the bike is much better than before. I felt very comfortable. It was a great ride and the bike performed well. It’s more about reading the desert than navigation.”

Al Beloushi commented: “Opening the route isn’t easy. There weren’t any tracks to follow so it was really difficult for me but I made the most of it and I’m hoping for the best.”

After Thursday night’s ceremonial start at Dubai Autodrome, 46 cars, buggies, bikes and quads headed out into the dunes and plains of the Al Qudra desert to negotiate the 174-km stage, which will be repeated on Saturday. The competitors will reach the finish at Dubai Autodrome at 4.30pm.

Standings

Cars

1. Jakub Przygonski / Tom Colsoul (POL / BEL) / MINI John Cooper 2:06:51

2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / RUS) / MINI Mini One 2:08:57

3. Yasir Hamed Seaidan / Aleksei Kuzmich (KSA / RUS) / Toyota Hilux 2:12:34

4. Martin Prokop / Jan Tomanek (CZE / CZE) / Ford F-150 Evo 2:19.09

5. Mansoor Al Helei / Khalid Al Kendi (ARE / ARE) / Nissan Pick up 2:25.10

6. Thomas Bell / Patrick McMurren (ARE / ARE) / Nissan Navara 2:37.46

7. Luke Botha / Gerhardus Schutte (ZAF / ZAF) / Nissan Navara 2:45.37

8. Shammer Variawa / Zaheer Bodhanya (ARE / ZAF) / Nissan Navara 2:45.54

9. Vadym Prytuliak (UKR) / Polaris RZR 1000 2:49.46

10. Ahmad Al Sheghawi / L. Lichtleuchter (KSA / FRA) / Toyota Landcruiser 3:13.43