03.03.2023: A roller coaster of a race at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has wrapped up after 1,311 kilometres over the dunes. There was plenty of pulsating action across all categories of the World Rally-Raid Championship during all five desert stages. Lets ta
A roller coaster of a race at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has wrapped up after 1,311 kilometres over the dunes. There was plenty of pulsating action across all categories of the World Rally-Raid Championship during all five desert stages. Let’s take a look at who’s celebrating in Abu Dhabi City tonight…
In the car race the week got progressively better for nine-time WRC winner Sébastien Loeb. The Frenchman and his co-driver Fabian Lurquin were unable to finish Stage One due to mechanical issues and were forced to change their engine before rejoining the race the following day.
Time penalties took Loeb out of the hunt for the overall lead in Abu Dhabi, but he battled back for stage results in the remaining four stages behind the wheel of his BRX Prodrive Hunter. With Loeb’s championship rival Nasser Al-Attiyah forced to retire from the rally – rolling his Toyota Hilux GR DKR T1+ on Stage Three – the W2RC standings took a dramatic twist. Loeb now leads Al-Attiyah in the championship by 16 points with three rounds remaining.
“There was some very hard work and long hours put in for these valuable points both on the rally and back in the bivouac.” – Sébastien Loeb
Riding a wave of mature racing all week was 20-year-old Seth Quintero who took the overall win in the T3 class. Quintero and co-driver Dennis Zenz backed up their wins on the Prologue and Stage One to hold the T3 lead from start to finish in Abu Dhabi. Quintero set the third fastest time across all the categories at the ADDC, a truly remarkable achievement by the driver who now leads the overall T3 standings in the W2RC.
“We’ve won the T3 race and we’re P3 overall amongst all the cars. To be competitive against the T1 cars in my Can-Am is great for the whole team who have been backing me up all week.” – Seth Quintero
Following Quintero home was fellow Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team USA presented by BFGoodrich driver Austin ‘AJ’ Jones who took second overall in the T3 race. AJ and co-driver Gustavo Gugelmin now sit in second in the W2RC T3 rankings.
“We finished in P2 so we got some good points for the championship and now we move onto the next one.” – Austin Jones
The third Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team USA presented by BFGoodrich crew of Mitch Guthrie Jr./Kellon Walch celebrated wins on Stages Three and Five in their MCE5 vehicle during the ADDC.
“This race definitely had some ups and downs. We had our issues along the way, but we also won a couple of stages.” – Mitch Guthrie Jr.
Elsewhere in the T3 contest there were tough moments for the Can-Am crews of Cristina Gutiérrez/Pablo Moreno and Mattias Ekström/Emil Bergkvist.
“From an experience point of view we had a good rally, but we didn’t get the result that we wanted.” – Mattias Ekström
Victory in the T4 race was claimed by Rokas Baciuška and co-driver Oriol Vidal of the Red Bull Can-Am Factory Team. After second place at the 2023 Dakar Rally, Baciuška is now the leading T4 driver on the W2RC leaderboard.
“Here in Abu Dhabi we didn’t make any mistakes and when you don’t make mistakes you win the race.” – Rokas Baciuška
Toby Price of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is the bike category leader of the W2RC. The runner-up at the 2023 Dakar powered his way up the rankings as the week went on in Abu Dhabi.
“On Stage Five we got the win and clawed our way back onto the final podium. That puts us in the lead for the overall championship with a good lot of points for this round.” – Toby Price
Round Three of the 2023 World Rally-Raid Championship takes place next month in Mexico. The Sonora Rally is a new addition to the calendar this year and will present the convoy with a fresh set of challenges in April.
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: Results
T1 1. Y. AL RAJHI (SAU) TOYOTA 16:28:06 2. M. PROKOP (CZE) FORD +12:31 3. J. YACOPINI (ARG) TOYOTA +32:57
T3 1. S. QUINTERO (USA) CAN-AM 16:58:31 2. A. JONES (USA) CAN-AM +27:45 3. H. GARCES ECHEVERRIA (CHL) CAN-AM +56:28
T4 1. R. BACIUSKA (LTU) CAN-AM 17:25:47 2. M. AL HELEI (ARE) CAN-AM +12:03 3. P. NAVARRO (ESP) CAN-AM +26:00
Bike 1. A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA) HONDA 17:13:39 2. L. BENAVIDES (ARG) HUSQVARNA +04:18 3. T. PRICE (AUS) KTM +05:13
World Rally-Raid Championship: Rankings T1 1. S. LOEB (FRA) PRODRIVE 101 points 2. N. AL-ATTIYAH TOYOTA 85 3. M. PROKOP (CZE) FORD 64
T3 1. S. QUINTERO (USA) CAN-AM 127 points 2. A. JONES (USA) CAN-AM 121 3. M. GUTHRIE JR. (USA) MCE5 81
T4 1. R. BACIUSKA (LTU) CAN-AM 134 points 2. E. GOCZAL (POL) CAN-AM 86 3. P. NAVARRO (ESP) CAN-AM 73
Bike 1. T. PRICE (AUS) KTM 46 points 2. A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA) HONDA 42 3. K. BENAVIDES (ARG) HONDA 38
QUOTES
Sébastien Loeb: “We’re at the end of the rally in Abu Dhabi and we’ve taken some very good points for the championship. That’s the best we could expect when we got here, coming away with the lead intact. Today we’ve increased our lead from two to 16 points so I think we have to be happy after the problems we had early on in the event.
Thank you to everybody in the team to turn this around; there was some very hard work and long hours put in for these valuable points both on the rally and back in the bivouac. Now the focus moves to the Sonora Rally in April.”
Seth Quintero: “It’s been an awesome week for us. The week started off with a win in the Prologue and then we backed it up with another win on Stage One. We got an awesome lead on Stage One and we tried to manage that the whole way through. We’ve won the T3 race and we’re P3 overall amongst all the cars. To be competitive against the T1 cars in my Can-Am is great for the whole team who have been backing me up all week.”
Austin Jones: “It was a really nice race. Good stages and obviously lots of dunes. It was hard and dangerous to drive so I’m really happy that we finished in one piece. Overall we finished in P2 so we got some good points for the championship and now we move onto the next one.”
Mitch Guthrie Jr.: “This race definitely had some ups and downs. We had our issues along the way, but we also won a couple of stages. Overall, the rally was a lot of fun. It was also gruelling due to the heat and the crazy dunes. I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work this week.”
Mattias Ekström: “From an experience point of view we had a good rally, but we didn’t get the result that we wanted. On one day we ran out of fuel and on another we broke the engine. In between these tough moments we had some really good pace and enjoyed learning more about driving in the dunes.”
Rokas Baciuška: “Last year we were second here and this year we are first. We are now also leading the world championship. There are still three tough races to come so we will see what happens. Here in Abu Dhabi we didn’t make any mistakes and when you don’t make mistakes you win the race.”
Toby Price: “It took the first few days to adjust to the dunes and the drops. Day three was good, but then opening Stage Four was tough. On Stage Five we got the win and clawed our way back onto the final podium. That puts us in the lead for the overall championship with a good lot of points for this round.”
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 2023 World Rally Raid Championship Round WORLD2 Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren is the winner of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, after the concl more >>
ROSS BRANCH FINISHES IN THE 5TH POSITIONHero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, concluded their campaign at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 (ADDC) with a remarkable top-5 result. more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – February 26th-March 3rd, 2023 2023 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, round 2 Friday, March 3rd, 2023• Dakar Rally more >>
Dubai-born teenager Aliyyah Koloc recorded the best cross-country result of her career, finishing third among the registered FIA World Rally-Raid Championship runners in the T3 category – on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, round two of the W2RC season. more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge2023 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, round 2February 26th-March 3rd, 2023• Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah crashes out of rally lead on third stageOverdrive Racing more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 – Stage 5Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has delivered an outstanding ride on the fifth and final day of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert more >>
Former Formula One winner Heikki Kovalainen has signed for JBXE to drive alongside Hedda Hosås for Extreme E Season 3.After finishing third in Season 1, Jenson Button’s outfit dropped to ninth in the standings last term – more >>
Frenchman puts Bahrain Raid Xtreme firmly in pole position in World Rally-Raid ChampionshipSebastien Loeb extended his lead in the World Rally-Raid Championship today as Yazeed Al Rajhi became the more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 2023 World Rally Raid Championship Round WORLD2 The second stop of this year’s World Rally Raid Championship is coming to an end, with only one more day to race in the Abu Dhabi Desert Chal more >>
ROSS BRANCH FINISHES AT THIRD PLACE IN STAGE 4Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, bagged their second podium of the week at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challen more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 – Stage 4Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price endured a challenging day in the desert today, opening the long, 308-kilometer timed special on stage four of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. However, despite battling through a difficult day, he remained focused and gave his all to secure a solid more >>
Frenchman aims to stretch Bahrain Raid Xtreme’s championship lead on final daySebastien Loeb recorded an emphatic stage victory for Bahrain Raid Xtreme in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge today to reinforce his title bid in the World Rally-Raid Championsh more >>
With three stages down at the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and two days of racing remaining, there’s drama in the dunes and in the bivouac. Stage Three brought another huge twist to the heavyweight car contest between Nasser Al-Attiyah and Sébastien more >>
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, has completed the third stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with its sole rider in the race, Ross Branch finishing well inside the top-10 positions, at the 6th place. more >>
2023 World Rally Raid Championship Round WORLD2 The second day of the marathon stage is completed in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Monster Energy Honda Team keeps the overall lead. In a Special Stage 26 more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 – Stage 3Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has claimed victory on stage three of the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. After close to four hours of racing more >>
Al Attiyah’s safety cage badly damagedOn arrival at the bivouac, Nasser Al Attiyah’s Hilux was inspected by FIA technicians. The safety cage is so badly damaged that without a miracle from the Toyota Gazoo Racing team during the night, the Qatari will not be allowed to start tomorrow.Tony Lewis, Narayan Marar, Total Communications more >>
Frenchman keeps Bahrain Raid Xtreme in championship hunt as stage ends in drama Sebastien Loeb delivered a powerful reminder today that he will battle Nasser Al Attiyah all the way in the World Rally-Raid Championship as the Qatari’s bid for a fourt more >>
Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, has continued its steady performance at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023. Ross Branch’s confident run tod more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 – Stage 2Tuesday, February 28th 2023Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has successfully completed the second stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in eighth place. more >>
French star thanks Bahrain Raid Xtreme technicians for putting him on path to recovery in world title race
Sebastien Loeb put Bahrain Raid Xtreme on the path to recovery in the World Rally-Raid Championship today as arch-rival Nasser Al Attiyah e more >>
ROSS BRANCH ACHIEVES THE THIRD PLACEHero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, had a day with mixed emotions in the first stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023.
more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 2023 World Rally Raid Championship Round WORLD2 Monday, February 27th 2023Monster Energy Honda Team is ruling in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023! After the prologue win, Chilean Pablo Quintanilla was more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 – Stage 1Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has got his 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge underway with a strong ride, placing fifth on the event’s opening stage one. Combined with his third-place result from Sunday’s short prologue qualifier, Price lies third overall heading into day two. more >>
French star sets sights on world championship points as Al Attiyah grabs lead Sebastien Loeb plans a fight to the finish in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge after his hopes of a first victory in th more >>
• Season 3 doubled from five to ten rounds• All race weekends become doubleheaders which maximises action and minimises additional carbon output• Single car qualifying swapped out for five car Qualifying and Finals, boosting wheel to wheel racing output more >>
TEAM RIDERS FINISH IN TOP-10 IN THE PROLOGUE STAGE Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsport team of the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters – Hero MotoCorp, today started its campaign at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) 2023 with a top-10 finish in the prologue stage. more >>
2023 Qatar International Baja – March 15th-18th, 2023FIA World and Middle East Cups for Cross-Country Bajas, round 2FIM Bajas World Cup, round 2 • A more >>
Bahrain Raid Xtreme are showing off not one, but two world leading supercars in the countdown to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.One is the BRX Prodrive Hunter which has given Sebastien Loeb the more >>
Veloce Racing have become the latest Extreme E outfit to add a Racing for All candidate to their team for the forthcoming season.British engineering student Amanda Kangai will join the British squad for Extreme E Season 3, with the team becoming the first team to sign a female engineer in line with the Racing For All initiative.
more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 2023 World Rally Raid Championship Round WORLD2 Six weeks after the Dakar in Saudi Arabia, the World Rally Raid Championship is back for the second stop with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. From next Sun more >>
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2023 – PreviewRed Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price is ready to race the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Fresh from his runner-up finish at the Dakar Rally, Price comes into this s more >>
With the dust barely settled after a pulsating 2023 Dakar Rally, the World Rally-Raid Championship returns to action this week for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The Empty Quarter Desert will once again feature heavily during Round Two of the series where an intimidating total of 1,311 kilometres are spread over five deserts stages. more >>
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kevin Benavides will not take part in round two of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, after suffering a crash during the pre-race shakedown tests yesterday, Wednesday 22 February. more >>
What has been one of the most transformative experiences in your multifaceted career, spanning from aviation to education and corporate training, and how has...
The Aspire Education Academy Convocation Ceremony marked a significant milestone in the institution's journey, bringing together a distinguished assembly of guests, graduates, and faculty...
