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Top stars absent from this year's UAE rally

The top rally teams are set to miss next month's UAE Desert Challenge after the Dakar Rally was switched to South America due to terrorism.

  • Staff Report
  • Published: 00:02 October 1, 2008
  • Gulf News

Dubai: The top rally teams are set to miss next month's UAE Desert Challenge after the Dakar Rally was switched to South America due to terrorism.

The UAE's FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, which takes place from October 24 to 31, will be without star names like Stephane Peterhansel, Luc Alphand and Carlos Sainz.

Their absence was been out down to the logistical problems presented by the decision to switch the Dakar Rally to Argentina and Chile next January.

The move followed the cancellation of this year's event after the murder of four French citizens and three Mauritanian soldiers by terrorists in the build-up.

Mohammad Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, said: "It would be a logistical nightmare for the factory teams to compete here before going on to South America.

"But they'll be back here next year for sure. None of them want to miss the Desert Challenge."

But the club president said this could make the rally one of the most competitive yet.

Sulayem said: "While we don't have some of the top professional teams just for this time, we'll have one of the biggest entries in recent years and, ironically, it could be the most competitive Desert Challenge we've ever staged, with no obvious favourites."

He said the event's official partner Nissan could have a great chance of a podium finish.

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