ABU DHABI // The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, as if it needed more reason to celebrate, was officially confirmed on Wednesday as the FIA World Cup’s top-ranking cross-country rally.
The annual week-long endurance race will mark its 25th anniversary when it starts on March 27 and the foundations set over the past two-and-a-half decades have led to the FIA, the world governing body for motorsports, handing it the highest score out of last year’s 10 races.
A series of official reports compiled by FIA observers and analysing each World Cup rally were submitted last year. It was confirmed on Wednesday that the UAE capital’s race ranked the highest for the overall standard of organisation, safety, training, management of volunteers, efforts taken to protect the environment and quality of special stages.
This year’s Super Special Spectator Stage, the traditional curtain raiser for the Desert Challenge, will be contested on part of Yas Marina Circuit’s Formula One track.
“The Desert Challenge carries a positive image of Abu Dhabi – and the UAE as a whole – to audiences around the world,” said Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak, Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
Organisers said last year’s race, which is also part of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, was witnessed by a global TV audience of more than 68 million.
“It is gratifying that the event should now receive official recognition as the top cross-country rally in the FIA World Cup,” Sheikh Nahyan said.
“I am confident it will continue to set the highest standards in the years ahead.”
Launched in 1991 by Mohammed ben Sulayem, an Emirati former Middle East Rally champion, the Desert Challenge has grown from a local race with 30 participants to a contest often compared to the notorious Dakar Rally in terms of difficulty.
Last year’s event attracted more than 100 drivers and riders and the entry list this year is expected to grow again.
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
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