Nasser Al Attiyah to appeal disqualification after winning Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Qatari saying the suspension travel irregularity that was cited by FIA gave him no advantage. Meanwhile Marc Coma won the bikes category without ado.

Nasser Al Attiyah’s suspension bracket was found bent. Courtesy ADDC

ABU DHABI // Nasser Al Attiyah will appeal the FIA’s decision last night to disqualify him from the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, saying the suspension travel irregularity that was cited by the governing body for world motorsports gave him no advantage.

The Qatari is competing in the FIA Cross Country World Cup for Mini All4 Racing. He had led the five-day race in the Empty Quarter since Monday’s Stage 2.

When yesterday’s fifth and final stage was cancelled because air support was not possible due to a sandstorm, Al Attiyah was handed victory.

However, during post-race inspection, Al Attiyah’s suspension brackets were found by race stewards to be illegal and his car was disqualified, meaning Vladimir Vasilyev, last year’s winner, was named champion.

Al Attiyah said the ruling was harsh. “It’s not fair,” the two-time Dakar Rally winner said. “The bracket for the travel suspension was bent because we hit some big bumps, but there is no advantage.

“I will try to appeal because the letter from the stewards who made the decision even says there is no advantage. We need to appeal because we are fighting for the championship.”

In the bikes category, Marc Coma, the five-time Dakar winner, secured his eighth Desert Challenge title with a commanding victory.

The Spaniard said he was under no illusions regarding the difficulty of the event but managed to race this week without mistakes.

“I am very happy with the result,” the KTM rider said. “I know how tough the race is from previous years, so we made some good tactical decisions as a team and it paid off.

“The bike was great and I had no problems. It’s another victory for the team and it’s my eighth win here, so I’m very proud.”

Mansour Al Helei, the son of the only man to compete in all 25 editions of the Abu Dhabi event, won the T2 category for production vehicles in a Nissan Patrol.

“I’m very happy to be the winner of the category, in what is very much a family car,” he said.

“This was handed down to me by my father, Yahya Al Helei. I pushed so hard in the rally in order to finish.

“The car is not top in this category and I experienced a lot of mechanical issues, but I tried my best and I am delighted with the result.”

Follow us on Twitter at our new home at NatSportUAE