Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, three-time winner of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, is getting ready to launch another campaign at the same venue this year, from Sunday.
But with next week’s competition a part of the second round of the newly introduced World Rally-Raid Championship, Toyota Gazoo Racing Team’s Nasser and French co-driver Mathieu Baumel faces a strong challenge from a host of seasoned rivals on the circuit.
The Qatari leads the drivers’ standings in the five-round FIA championship, his win in the first round at the Dakar Rally in January fetching him 85 points. France’s Sebastien Loeb (84) closely tails him. Loeb had pushed Nasser hard at the opening event in Saudi Arabia and will again be a threat as he seeks to make amends for that defeat.
Another Frenchman — Stephane Peterhansel — is not among the points but is a title contender all the same. The eight-time Dakar Rally winner’s exploits are enough to place him as a frontrunner.
Nasser and Peterhansel have engaged in fierce battles on desert terrain at Dakar rallies and a similar face-off in Abu Dhabi cannot be ruled out.
Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi (51), third on the table, and fourth-placed Jakub Przygonski (36) are others who are keen to make an impact in the second round.
The event gets underway with a 265.04 km stretch at Asab on Sunday. Drivers tackle a total competitive route of 1,341kms over five stages with the event closing after the final 216km run at Al Fathiyeh on Thursday.
.
Comments