Five racers to watch out for at the 25th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi will be making his Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge debut and can count on home support. Courtesy: FIA

Ahead of the start of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Gary Meenaghan picks five racers to watch for.

Vladimir Vasilyev

The reigning World Cup champion arrived in the Middle East after racing in the Baja Russia — Northern Forest, where he faced deep snow and temperatures as low as minus-20°C. He said the Abu Dhabi race is the most challenging of the year and is hoping to emulate his 2014 feat when he won by 47 minutes and 55 seconds.

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi

Competing for the first time in an FIA Cross Country Rally, the Emirati WRC driver and chairman of Abu Dhabi Racing is making his Desert Challenge debut in a Toyota Hilux. With modest aspirations, he is an unlikely winner, but with no love lost between himself and Middle East Rally champion Nasser Al Attiyah, do not expect him to ease up too often.

Marc Coma

The Spanish KTM rider is a five-time Dakar Rally winner and seven-time champion in Abu Dhabi, yet he missed out in the UAE last year to Honda’s Paulo Goncalves. Coma arrived in the Emirates weeks in advance this time to get a jump start on his rivals and said he feels confident.

Yahya Al Helei

The only man to compete in all 25 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenges started his career competing alongside Al Attiyah, but he is quick to point out that while the Qatari has blossomed on the international scene, the Emirati has been hindered by a lack of financial backing. He returns once again and has switched to T1.1, which he believes he is capable of winning.

Ian and Sheila Barker

Body-NoIndent: The field’s only husband-and-wife team will take part in their eighth Desert Challenge, looking to better their 10th-place finish in 2010. They say the growth of the race has lessened their expectations behind the wheel of their Nissan Patrol but “we can be the tortoise that beats the hare”.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE