Sheikh Khalid exceeds own expectations to sit second at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi in action during Day 1 of the 2017 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Courtesy Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Initially targeting a modest top 10 finish on Day 1 of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi surpassed his expectations, finishing second behind defending champion Nasser Al Attiyah, and is now looking forward to the remaining four stages.

Driving the 2017 Dakar-winning Peugeot 3008 DKR, Sheikh Khalid and co-driver Khalid Al Kendi raced their rear-wheel drive through the vast emptiness of the Rub Al Khali at an average speed of 80.7kmph, completing the 276.59km Stage 1, named after the Yas Marina Circuit, in three hours, 25 minutes and 46 seconds.

Al Attiyah, the two-time defending World Cup for Cross Country Rallies champion, has an 11 minute, 35.1 second lead at the top in his Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, but impressively for Sheikh Khalid, a newcomer to the world of cross country rallies, the Abu Dhabi Racing chairman finished the day four minutes and 10.8 seconds ahead of Russian Vladimir Vasilyev (X-raid Mini All4 Racing), a two-time winner of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

“It was a good day, went much better than expected,” said Sheikh Khalid, who is driving the 3008 DKR for the first time. Last month, he was behind the wheel of a Peugeot 2008 DKR when he finished second behind Al Attiyah in the Dubai International Baja.

“I was looking to be inside the top 10, so second place at the end of the day is great.

“The day obviously was difficult, especially when we encountered smaller dunes during the final section but we got through fine. Like I have said before, the plan is to gain as much experience in this format of racing and continue my learning curve. I am looking forward now to the remainder of the stages.”

In the bikes category, Dubai-based Briton Sam Sunderland will take a 5.7 second lead into 289.39km Stage 2 as the rally enters the feared dunes section of the Rub Al Khali for the first time.

The 2017 Dakar champion, Sunderland clinched an exciting battle for Stage 1, finishing three seconds clear of defending FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion Pablo Quintanilla, while Matthias Walkner is third, a minute and 1.4 second behind the Chilean.

“It was good to win the stage and have the choice of position, because this race is quite strategic,” said Sunderland, who is riding a KTM 450 Rally Factory. “It was a heavy day, really tough, and we had to push a lot. To start last and finish first was not easy.

“The deserts are really unpredictable out there. The rain of the past weeks, I lost the front (of the bike) in the sand, in the soft dunes, braking a few times. This caused a bit of stress. But the bike is working good.

“I will take each day as it comes. Obviously starting first tomorrow, I will lose time. But we will see.”

Quintanilla, who finished third in Abu Dhabi last year behind Toby Price and Sunderland, agreed with the overnight leader.

“It was a really difficult stage,” he said. “I came from behind with Sam. I rode really fast and I was leading for a time. But it was a good stage. It was important to come back strongly from my crash on the Dakar and get my confidence again.”

In the quads category, Poland’s Kamil Wisniewski will carry a 54.5 second lead over Guatemala’s Rodolfo Schippers into Stage 2, while Emirati Khalifa Al Raeesi is a further 7 minute and 45.9 seconds behind in third.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport