[ad_1]
Current title leader Sebastian Loeb is aiming for an impressive finish in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
bay today, Journalist
The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) has long showcased champion-winning talent. This has been truer than ever in recent years, with both the four-wheel and two-wheel categories teeming with promise for emerging talent as the prestigious UAE Rally enters its second year as part of the World Rally Championship (W2RC).
Saturday’s pre-race press conference, which welcomed competitors from around the world, was a challenge to be overcome for many in attendance. Of all the starters, only Nasser Al Attiyah, Khalid Al Qassimi, Martin Prokop and Guerlain Chicherit have won the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
It’s a similar story on two wheels. Of this year’s entrants, only Toby Price and Pablo Quintanilla stood on the top steps in Abu Dhabi.
The rally is hosted by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and organized by the Emirates Motor Sports Organization (EMSO). The race begins with a prologue on Sunday and runs until March 3, when competitors will race across 1,915 kilometers of spectacular sand dunes. The drivers underwent the traditional pre-race set-up ahead of tomorrow’s prologue, when the curtain on the rally was lifted before the drivers headed out to the majestic sand dunes surrounding Abu Dhabi.
The press conference, held at the Adnoc Energy Business Center in the heart of Abu Dhabi, also represented another step towards a new era for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, as the Emirates Motor Sports Organization (EMSO) heralds a bright future with key partners Institutions, organizations and companies.
Aref Al Awani, Secretary General of Abu Dhabi Sports Council, commented: “The hosting of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge confirms our aim of being the perfect destination for the world’s best athletes and we look forward to seeing the participants.”
Together with the event’s partners, EMSO brought the first leg of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge to the city of Al Dhannah for the first time, with the intense competition kicking off on Sunday.
EMSO CEO Mahir Badri said: “You can imagine the sacrifices these competitors are making, whether it’s physical, emotional, or even financial. These people are superhuman and they look to us to ensure their well-being and To provide a safe playing field. But we could not have done this without the help and support of the government, local authorities and search and rescue services, and we would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all for their commitment to provide the highest quality backup.”
The development of the event to Al Dhannah marks an exciting development for the ADDC, as plans continue to push these areas further and bring motorsports events closer to fans. The future of Al Dhannah is also promising with Adnoc Distribution announcing a planned investment to further improve services and facilities, with the aim of expanding the bustling city to attract more and more racing fans and tourists to this beautiful and historic city area.
Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO of Adnoc Distribution, said: “Keeping engines and racers fueled will play a key role in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as competitors traverse the 1,915km route.” 2023 for ADNOC Distribution is an important year. This will mark our 50th year at the heart of the customer journey – we are proud to support important sporting events such as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. “
With the situation at the top of the W2RC rankings so tense, the Desert Challenge 2023 is expected to be an exhilarating second stage as both the FIA and FIM classes take off from central Abu Dhabi and into the demanding sand dunes. Attiyah started the Desert Challenge after scoring a dramatic victory in the first round of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. He will be looking to seal the deal on the sands of Abu Dhabi, with Attiyah currently just two points behind the leaders in the drivers’ championship and Sebastian Loeb on the back foot thanks to more stage wins. Become the current standings leader.
The five-time Dakar champion will also defend the W2RC title this year, having won his inaugural title in 2022, having won three ADDC titles in his career. UAE’s Khalid Al Qassimi, a former Middle East rally champion and one of the UAE’s most experienced competitors, finished second at the 2021 FIA Cross Country Bajas World Cup.
In 2012, Al Balooshi became the first Emirati to compete in the Dakar Rally, and in 2018 he made history again as the first driver from the region to win the FIM Bajas World Cup. He nearly repeated the incredible feat last year, but mechanical issues marred his title bid. Balooshi leads a field of 30 bikes in the FIM Baja World Cup standings after winning the opener in Saudi Arabia.
[ad_2]
Source link