Al Attiyah seizes car lead, Schareina retakes top spot in bikes in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Abu Dhabi: Dacia’s Nasser Al Attiyah beat Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Seth Quintero by 3m 59s to win the Stage 3 of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in the cars category.

Lucas Moraes, in another Toyota Hilux, finished half a minute further back in third. Al Attiyah also moved into the overall lead, but a Dacia one-two was denied when Sebastien Loeb received a 2-minute penalty for speeding, dropping him to third overall, 1m 57s behind Moraes.

The third stage of the Desert Challenge, over 80 per cent of which comprised sand and massive dunes, was made even more difficult by strong winds that stirred up clouds of fine sand and dust. Combined with pale, overcast skies that blurred the edges of the dunes and robbed the riders of any shade, the route to Al Qua’a proved a real test of endurance. With the severity of the gusts making helicopter support more difficult in the afternoon, Race Control took the decision to halt FIA competitors still on course. However, the stoppage did not affect the top Ultimate car class competitors, who had already completed the stage.

In the bikes category, Monster Energy Honda HRC rider Tosha Schareina roared back to the top of the standings in Stage 3, beating Red Bull KTM Factory Team’s Luciano Benavides by 2m 15s. Honda made it a double podium with Ricky Brabec securing third.

Schareina’s stage win vaults the Spaniard back to the overall lead, now 1m 19s ahead of Stage 2 winner Daniel Sanders and almost 2 minutes clear of third-placed Benavides. Red Bull KTM rider Sanders finished Stage 3 in sixth.

In Rally 2, Michael Docherty continued his dominant run, securing his fourth straight stage win. The unstoppable SRG Motorsports rider outpaced Duust Rally Team’s Konrad Dabrowski by 6m 27s, with SRG teammate Tobias Ebster two minutes further back in third. Docherty now holds a commanding 22m 18s lead over the Pole and 38m 17s over the Austrian.

With the later-running Challenger and SSV classes halted by the winds, and in accordance with FIA regulations, Race Control will allocate times to affected competitors, with results to be published later.

In Quads, Emirati racer Abdulaziz Ahli stormed to victory, finishing 11m 17s ahead of Poland’s Marcin Wilkołek and over 22 minutes clear of Marek Łój, who now leads the overall classification.

Fares Hamad Fares, Vice President of Digital Communications at e&, said: “The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is the ultimate test of endurance, skill, and determination — values that are at the heart of e&’s ‘Go for More’ brand ethos. This rally embodies the spirit of pushing boundaries, embracing challenges, and delivering next-level performance, inspiring racers and fans alike to strive for more.

“Just as this rally pushes limits in the world’s toughest terrains, we’re taking connectivity a step ahead to power the future of extreme sports, ensuring that every moment of ambition and adventure is seamlessly connected.”