Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023: 55 on W2RC entry list

More than a month after the start of the season Dakar Rallythis world rally championship Thirty trip to Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi Desert ChallengeFifty-five people formed the pre-screen W2RC grid after registration closed on Saturday. Thirty for the FIA ​​and twenty-five for the bikes and quads.

Since the Dakar Rally is the biggest rally of the year, it’s no surprise that Abu Dhabi is taking part in a much smaller venue.Still, there are plenty of major absentees like T1 audi sport teamthe next start will be the end of the season Rally Morocco especially after a disastrous dakar race Carlos Sainz and Stephen Peterhansellco-pilot Edward Boulanger Injured in car accident.Although Peter Hansel is Defending ADDC Championhe is not on the entry list.

Mathias Ekstromthe only Audi member to complete the Dakar and the only driver of the trio to make it to Abu Dhabi, despite being in T3 south racing. Audi with x-raid team Mini John Cooper Works could be deployed for Audi drivers outside of Dakar and Morocco if they wished, although Sainz and Peterhansel appear not to have accepted the offer, pending late or non-championship entries.

W2RC T1 title race continues despite Audi opting not to defend its victory Sebastian Loeb and Nasser Attiyahthe latter being both defend dakar and W2RC Champion and the 2021 ADDC Champion; Al-Attiyah also won the 2016 Desert Challenge. However, Loeb’s nine Dakar stage victories and runner-up finish mean he is two points clear of Al-Attiyah in the T1 standings.

in the bike, Sam Sunderland Now that he’s recovered from his Dakar injury, he’ll be hoping for back-to-backs Ricky Brabeck. On the other hand, Sunderland’s team-mate daniel sanders Will miss rally due to injury.

Also skipping the race is the Rally2 Dakar winner Romain Dumontier, although Rally2 drivers can give up the worst results in their championship standings.Of course, his absence also opened the door paul luci and Michael DochertyHe was on the class podium with him in the opener. Conrad Dabrowski after making his season debut Missed Dakar with appendicitis.

Only five quad riders enter, Abdulaziz Ahli Leading as he aims for a three-peat.

With many Dakar entrants not returning, those heading to Abu Dhabi lined up with other teams. For example, Lucas Morais Despite his co-driver’s impressive third-place T1 finish in the Dakar, he did not race Timo Gottschalk Will serve as shotgun seat for Toyota Hilux drivers Yazid Raj who returns to action after rehab Injured chest in skiing accident. Al-Rajhi and Gottschalk worked together from 2014 to 2019.

OriolminaWho won the Dakar T4 overall Eric Gochaounavigator, will move up to T1 to use the Guoyu ZhangZhang is one of three Chinese entrants for Abu Dhabi’s BAIC teammate Yunliang Zi and Han Weithe latter is the highest four-wheel Dakar finish for Chinese drivers.

It is important to note that some are not on the entry list as they do not compete for W2RC points.For example, Rally2 includes Justin Gerlachan amateur rider competing in a world championship for the first time, and benjamin liesA regular at ADDC, finished 13th in his class in Dakar.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge kicks off on February 26th. The race will feature 1,311 kilometers of special stages and will run until March 3.

FIA entry list

T1

T3

T4

List of FIM entries

Rally Grand Prix

Rally 2

quadruple room