ABU DHABI // Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev, Portuguese biker Paulo Goncalves and Polish quads rider Rafal Sonik are chasing places in the record books over the next five days at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.
In the 25-year history of the event only three drivers – the UAE’s Mohammed Mattar in the first two editions, Jean-Louis Schlesser and Stephane Peterhansel – have successfully defended a cars championship.
Since the bikes category was introduced 20 years ago, seven-times winner Marc Coma of Spain and Frances’s former world FIM champion, Cyril Despres, are the two riders to have achieved the feat.
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If Sonik manages to complete back-to-back wins when the Desert Challenge finishes at Yas Marina Circuit on Thursday afternoon, he will become the first competitor to do so in the 10-year involvement of quads.
Following Saturday’s spectator stage at Yas Marina Circuit, the conditions change dramatically as the 101 cars, buggies, bikes and quads head into the desert of the Western Region.
Starting at 9am, today, from Al Razeen, the 262-kilometre Stage 1 provides the first major test, finishing close to the rally’s bivouac beside Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort.
“It’s a very important stage, because everyone wants to have a good start without running into any problems, and even for the most experienced competitors it takes time to adjust to the desert,” said Mohammed ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the rally organisers.
Among those aiming to block Vasilyev’s path to victory are Qatar’s 2008 winner Nasser Al Attiyah in a Mini, Brazillian Reinaldo Varela and Saudi contender Yazeed Al Rajhi, both driving a Toyota Hilux, as well as last year’s runner-up, Poland’s Adam Malysz, in another Mini.
Making his event debut, the UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi swaps his Citroen rally car for a Toyota Hilux.
Fellow Emirati Yaha Al Helei looks for another big performance in the Nissan pick-up he took to fourth place last year.
Goncalves produced a surge on the final stage last year to overhaul Coma and deny him an eighth Desert Challenge bikes crown, and the Spaniard is determined not to lose out again.
However, he could come under pressure this time from Spain’s Joan Barreda Bort, as well as his KTM teammates, Dubai-based Sam Sunderland and Portugal’s Ruben Faria.
The biggest threat to FIM world champion Sonik in the battle of the quads could come from Qatar’s 2013 winner Mohammed Abu Issa.
Sonik says terrain is beautiful but also unforgiving
Poland’s Rafal Sonik, the reigning FIM world quads champion, gets excited when talking about racing in the austere Western Region.
“It is the most beautiful place I could ever think of driving,” he said.
“For me to be here and rallying is fulfilling the dream of any rally driver or any person who is passionate about driving.
“It is like going to heaven when you are here.”
However, Sonik knows that underneath the picturesque scenery lies an unforgiving course.
“You cannot imagine a more spectacular or more beautiful terrain to race on, but you have to respect it,” he said.
“I crashed here in the desert many years ago and I broke my wrist and learnt a big lesson.
“It is beautiful terrain, but you need to respect it and be cautious. I train in Dubai in the winter time for Dakar and then after that for the Desert Challenge and the World Cup.
“You always have to remember it was created by nature and when man chooses to use it, you have to be absolutely sure that you are responsible and take care at all times.
“We cannot expect nature to look after us and this is exactly what I will be telling our Polish team riders before we start.
The 25th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and the opening round of the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes.
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