Nasser Al-Attiyah Clinches Second Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Victory

Nasser Al-Attiyah emerged victorious in the 2nd round of world cup for cross country rallies. Held in the deserts of Abu Dhabi, Al-Attiyah bagged his second win in Abu Dhabi. In the bikes department Dakar winner Toby Price came on top after a fine riding throughout the rally.

Photo credits : MCH Photography

Al-Attiyah took commanding five stage wins on his course for victory. Driving a Toyota Hilux alongside his French co-driver Mathieu Baumel, Al-Attiyah was fastest on the 234km Abu Dhabi Avaiation stage and reached the finish line at Yas Marina Circuit with a huge winning margin of 32 mins 13 secs over Yazeed Al Rajhi in his Mini All4 Racing. Finnish driver Mikko Hirvonen with his French co-driver Michel Perin finished third further 38 min 13 secs behind leader and just 8 mins behind Al Rajhi. He also took a stage win in his Mini All4 Racing machine. USA driver Bryce Menzies and Polish pilot Jakub Przygonski made it 4 Mini All4 Racing in top five spot.

Photo credits : MCH Photography

In the Moto category Dakar winner Aussie Toby Price took the win, but it was a hard fought victory till the last stage. Ultimately winning by just 2 min 11 secs over his Factory KTM team mate Sam Sunderland. Factory Husqvarna rider Pablo Quintanilla gave hard times for Toby Price by taking the rally lead twice, but at the end it was not enough for the Chile rider to stop Price from winning. He finished third further 3 min 23 sec off the leader. UAE rider Mohammed Al Balooshi showed impressive pace to finish third in his KTM Rally replica against the best factory riders. 

Rafal Sonik

In the T2 Production class Qatar's Adel Hussain Abdulla and his Egyptian co-driver Hakam Mohamed Rabeia took victory in their Nissan Patrol. Poland's Aron Domzala and Szymon Gospodarczyk took victory in T3 Buggy class in a Polaris RZR. Poland's reigning FIM World Champion Rafal Sonik won the Quads category.

Overall Classification Cars

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah / Mathieu Baumel (QAT / FRA) Toyota Hilux                        17:14.49

2. Yazeed Al-Rajhi / Timo Gotschalk (KSA / DEU) Mini All4 Racing                     17:47.02

3. Mikko Hirvonen / Michel Perin (FIN / FRA) Mini All4 Racing                             17:53.02

4. Bryce Menzies / Andreas Schulz (USA / DEU) Mini All4 Racing                       17:59.04

5. Jakub Przygonski / Tom Colsoul (POL / BEL) Mini All4 Racing                         18:06.33

6. Mathieu Serradori / Didier Haquette (FRA / FAR) Buggy                                    18:38.00

7. Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi / Khalid Al Kendi (ARE /ARE) Mini All4 Racing          18:56.01

8. Marek Dabrowski / Jacek Czachor (POL / POL)                                              19:52.40

9. Yuriy Sazonov / Dmytro Tsyro (KAZ / RUS)                                                     20:56.29

10. Khaled Al Feraihi / Abdulhaleem Al Busa’idi (KSA / OMN ) Nissan Patrol         23:15.59

Overall Classification Bikes

1. Toby Price (AUS) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1                                             18:18.24                     

2. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1                                    18:20.35

3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL) Husqvarna 450 Rally Factory 1                            18:21.47

4. Mohammed Al Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica                             18:56.38

5. Pierre Alexandre Renet (FRA)                                                                18:57.02

6. Laia Sanz (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Factory 1/3                                           19:19.25

7. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHL)                                                        19:19.28

8. Jakub Piatek (POL) KTM 450 Rally Replica 1/4                                        19:27.57

9. David McBride (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Replica 1                                       19:37.17

10. David Thomas (GBR) Husqvarna 450 Rally Replica 1                             20:51.22

Stay tuned for more news from the world of rallying. Until then Happy Rallying!