Saturday 16 / November / 2024
DUBAI: Oman’s Abdullah Al Zubair switches from snow and ice to desert sand when he returns to World Cup action in next month’s Dubai International Baja powered by Nissan and AW Rostamani, which has drawn a top-class line-up of Middle East and overseas competitors.
Al Zubair produced an impressive display in the recent opening round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas for cars and buggies, taking second place in the T3 Side by Side category in the frozen forests of Northern Russia in a Can Am Maverick.
While he links up for round two in Dubai with Qatari navigator Nasser Al Kuwari, his first round co-driver, fellow-Omani Faisal Al Raisi, will partner Abdullah’s father Zubair Al Zubair in a Jeep Wrangler.
Partnered by French co-driver Xavier Panseri in his Peugeot Abu Dhabi Racing Team 3008 DKR, the UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi will start as favourite to land the cars title, but faces major opposition as the top seeded driver.
Heading the bikes seedings in the event which also forms the opening round of this year’s FIM Bajas World Cup for bikes and quads is Mohammed Al Balooshi, the UAE’s reigning world champion and winner in Dubai last year.
The two top Emirati contenders are among an impressive international assembly of 115 competitors from 25 countries in the official entry list issued today by the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE (ATCUAE), the rally organisers.
Among Al Qassimi’s main challengers will be last year’s winner, Poland’s Jakub Przygonski, this time partnered by German co-driver Timo Gottschalk in a MINI John Cooper, and the 2018 runners-up, Russia’s Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov in a Toyota Hillux Overdrive.
Second seed in the 30-car entry and looking to follow on from last year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge triumph, and fourth place in Dubai, is Czech driver Martin Prokop accompanied by Jan Tomanek in a Ford Raptor RS Cross Country.
Other top overseas contenders include Polish driver Bartlomiej Boba and Finland’s Tapio Suominen in the Toyota Hilux which they took to an opening round third place in the frozen forests of Northern Russia, and Miroslav Zapletal and Marek Sykora who finished fourth in that event in a Ford F150 Evo.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE and FIA Vice President for Sport, said: “We’re delighted with the number and overall quality of entries. The switch from conventional rallying to the Baja format was made to take the sport forward, and this event goes from strength to strength.”
Taking place under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, the Dubai International Baja powered by Nissan and AW Rostamani is based at Dubai Autodrome. The event is supported by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, the General Authority of Sports, Dubai Customs, Al Ain Water and Emarat petrol.
The Dubai International Baja powered by Nissan and AW Rostamani will be launched by a ceremonial start at Dubai Autodrome on March 7. Competitors head out from Dubai Autodrome into the desert on the morning of March 8 to tackle a dramatic 407km special stage which will be run again the following morning before the event finishes back at the Autodrome at 12.30pm the same day.
