Top rally drivers back for Abu Dhabi Challenge

Abu Dhabi: The world's top rally drivers and riders are preparing to make their way back to the Middle East to compete in the ultimate desert rally, the 2012 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge from March 30 to April 6.

This year's rally is set to be more competitive than ever with racers from all over the world, including several reigning world champions, confirmed for one of the most spectacular and challenging events on the motorsport calendar. 

The car category of the competition sees the return of the highly successful X-Raid team, which won last year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on the way to claiming the 2011 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies.

This year, the German-based team is entering two BMW X3 CC cars, as well as the eye-catching Mini All4 Racing, which will be driven by Emirati Khalifa Al Mutaiwei, who won the FIA World Cup title in 2004. 

In one of the most spectacular rallies on earth, and for the second year running, the Emirati duo Yahya Bel Helei and Khalid Al Kendi will return to lead the charge in the Nissan Patrol.

Al Kendi will be able to count on Bel Helei as he has a number of spectacular wins and a wealth of experience in both the car and bike categories. Equally Bel Helei will have full confidence in his fellow compatriot Al Kendi who also has experience in the World Rally Championship. 

Certain to challenge hard for the title, following his third place in last year's Desert Challenge, will be renowned racer Jean-Louis Schlesser. The Frenchman - a multiple Cross-Country Rallies World Champion - is once again set to take on the massive, rolling dunes of the Empty Quarter desert in his Schlesser Buggy. Also returning will be the Russian G-Force team, headed up by another former world champion, Boris Gadasin. 

The bike category is set to prove equally competitive, with Honda's HT Rally Raid team arriving in force to take on all challengers. Competing on Honda CRF450X bikes the HT Rally Raid line-up includes participants from the USA, Chile, Kazakhstan and Russia. Additionally, the team features the UAE-based youngster who last year stunned the field by claiming two stage wins in his debut Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Sam Sunderland. 

Among those who experienced Sunderland's talent first hand in 2011 was rally legend and current Desert Challenge champion Marc Coma, who will be racing again this year for KTM and looking to record an amazing sixth win in the race. He will be joined by another KTM rallying star, Cyril Despres - remarkably, between them the two have won the last seven Dakar Rallies. 

In 2011, KTM bikes took three of the top five positions, and this year an equally strong entry list will make it tough for the Hondas and Yamahas, with the latter most notably represented by the three-man Team Pedrega from Venezuela and reigning World Champion Helder Rodrigues from Portugal.