Dubai International Baja: Nasser Al Attiyah continues run of dominance with decisive win

Nasser Al Attiyah won the inaugural Dubai International Baja on Saturday in Dubai. Courtesy Total Communications

DUBAI // A 10-time winner of the Dubai International Rally, Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah continued his domination of the emirate’s desert and dunes with a convincing victory in the inaugural Dubai International Baja.

The reigning FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies champion, Al Attiyah started his defence in style, winning all three stages in Dubai to finish 14 minute and 57 seconds ahead of Abu Dhabi Racing’s Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi.

Qatar’s Mohammed Abu Issa, a former Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge quads champion, finished a further eight minutes and 10 seconds behind to make it an all-GCC podium in the car’s category, while Ronan Chabot (Toyota Hilux), Miroslav Zapletal (Hummer) and Aron Domzala (Toyota Hilux), winner of the opening round of the World Cup in Russia, completed the car’s top six.

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■ Day 1: Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in thick of title hunt after first day

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In the bike’s category, South Africa’s Mark Ackerman produced a brilliant surge on the third stage to erase the one minute, 28 second lead held by Benjamin Melot and finish 29 seconds ahead of the Frenchman in the overall classification. Emirati rider Mohammed Al Balooshi finished third in stage three to move up a spot from his overnight position and complete the podium.

“It’s great to get the season off to a winning start and especially sweet to record a victory in this event,” said Al Attiyah, who had skipped the opening round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies in Russia last week.

A two-time Dakar Rally winner, Al Attiyah and his French navigator Matthieu Baumel had dominated last year’s World Cup in their Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, notching five successive victories on their way to the title in 2016.

A relative newcomer to cross country rallying, Sheikh Khalid was pleased with his outing in Dubai and is now looking forward to the next round of the World Cup, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which will run from April 1-7.

“In general, it was a good event and we are happy with the podium,” said Sheikh Khalid, who had Emirati Khalid Al Kendi as his co-driver in their Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 2008 DKR. “This event has given us more experience in desert rallies.

“Also, it is a very important podium for us as it is the first time we have finished a cross country event on the podium. I am happy with the result as it is not just for me, but the entire team at Abu Dhabi Racing and PH Sport. We are now looking forward to the Desert Challenge in a couple of weeks.”

There was success for Abu Dhabi Racing in the T2 class as well, with their Junior Rally Programme driver Mansour Belhelie and co-driver Chris Patterson taking the overall honours in the category despite finishing fourth in yesterday’s third stage.

Belhelie’s healthy overnight lead of five minutes and 34 seconds allowed him to finish three minute and 34 seconds ahead of Emil Khneisser in the overall classification, while Qatar’s Adel Hussain Abdulla finished third.

The UAE could have been celebrating a second winner, but Ahmed Al Maqoodi, winner of the candidate event in December, and co-driver Obaid Al Kitbi just missed out in the T3 class (buggies), finishing nine seconds behind Ukraine’s Vadym Prytuliak, who was driving solo in a Polaris RZR.

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