The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) is gearing up for an exhilarating new chapter as the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) heads into Round 2 of its second season.
For the first time in the Desert Challenge’s history, a team has been established to represent the UAE. The Abu Dhabi Team features a formidable lineup of Emirati athletes, each a top competitor in their respective categories, ready to take on their home terrain.
Continuing its mission to foster a supportive environment for sports and enhance sports programs for all community segments, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council sponsors The Abu Dhabi Team.
Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, the first Emirati to win the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2017, will compete in the T1 class. Mansour Al-Helei, the 2015 ADDC T2 winner, will tackle the T4 category on the challenging dunes.
Among the thirty bikes, Mohammed Al-Balooshi stands out as the current FIM Baja World Cup points leader after his victory in Saudi Arabia. Sultan Al Balooshi completes the lineup, competing in the Rally 2 category.
In the quad category, only five riders are entered into the W2RC, with Abdulaziz Ahli leading the charge, aiming for a hat-trick after winning the last two editions of the ADDC.
Prominent UAE national competitor Yahya Al-Helei, participating independently in a Nissan Pickup T1, continues his record-breaking streak as the only driver to have competed in every Desert Challenge since its inception in 1991. He is the father of Mansour Al-Helei, making them one of the most recognized names in UAE Rally-Raid.
Khalid Bin Sulayem, President of the Emirates Motorsport Organisation (EMSO), commented, “Last year marked an inspiring start to the World Rally-Raid Championship, and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge played a remarkable role in that success. This time, we aim to showcase even more of the UAE’s talent, including the exciting Abu Dhabi Team.”
He added, “For the 32nd edition of the Desert Challenge, we’ve brought the racing closer to the fans by setting up HQ in the heart of Abu Dhabi, allowing the home crowd to get up close with the UAE talent.”
The rally, presented by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and organized by the EMSO, begins with a Prologue on 26 February and runs through 3 March, with competitors racing through 1,311 kilometers of Special Stages across spectacular dune territory.
Thirty FIA Priority Crews and twenty-five riders on bikes and quads will participate in the second round of the W2RC. These fifty-five contenders will battle for victory among the dramatic dunes of the Al Dhafra region, alongside twenty-one non-championship entrants in FIA classes and thirty-three in FIM, making up a diverse lineup of 109 competitors.
The 32nd edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge features a new host, Al Dhannah City, which will serve as the Prologue for all categories on Sunday. Five-time Dakar winner JP Cottret will oversee the opening.
Stage 1, starting from the Ruler’s Representative Court Al Dhafra Region, is the second longest stage (405km), demanding competitors to pass from Ghiyathi City to Tal Mor’eb. The following three stages traverse the familiar desert and soft sands around Qasr Al Sarab.
The marathon stages for bikes and quads will occur during Stage 2 (ADNOC Distribution) and Stage 3 (Abu Dhabi 360). Stage 4 (Al-Futtaim Toyota) is the rally’s longest at 458km, featuring sharp climbs, deep descents, and technical ridge crossings.
Stage 5, the Abu Dhabi Aviation leg, will challenge competitors with high speeds and flat tracks, adding complexity as the race concludes.
As cars, bikes, and quads set off from Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning to tackle these five challenging stages, ADNOC Distribution will play a crucial role by providing Super 98 premium fuel, specially designed for demanding environments like those faced by ADDC’s competitors.
The quest for victory on both four and two wheels in the Abu Dhabi desert is held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region.
The event is presented by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, with support from Energy partner ADNOC Distribution, Automotive partner Al-Futtaim Toyota, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Al Ain Water, and governmental support from the Ministry of Defence & UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Police, Civil Defence, Abu Dhabi Distribution Co, Al Dhafra Region Municipality, and media partner Abu Dhabi Sports TV.