Mohammed ben Sulayem, the chief of motorsports in the UAE, believes the baja format is the future of rallying in the region and the numbers for the inaugural Dubai International Baja prove his point.
Joining the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies calendar, the Dubai International Baja has attracted an impressive line-up of 69 drivers and riders from across the Middle East and overseas, who will battle for the honours today and tomorrow in Al Qudra.
"We’re very pleased with the size and quality of the entry in the first year, and we look forward to some classic cross country rallying in the Al Qudra desert," Ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ACTUAE), the rally organisers, said at yesterday’s news conference.
"This event and the baja format shows the way ahead for rallying in the UAE and the Middle East as a whole, and we’re confident it will go from strength to strength.
"The baja format is more desert-friendly and affordable compared with traditional rallying, and by being open to buggies, bikes and quads as well as cars, appeals to a much wider range of competitors."
The Dubai International Baja is the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and buggies, and the opening round of the FIM Bajas World Cup for bikes and quads.
Competing this weekend are the likes of Sam Sunderland, the Dubai-based 2017 Dakar Rally bikes champion, and the reigning FIA World Cup champion Nasser Al Attiyah, who is a two-time Dakar winner as well.
Qatari Al Attiyah, partnered by Mathieu Baumel in a Toyota Hilux, will be up against familiar rival Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi of the UAE, who will be driving an Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 2008 DKR alongside Emirati co-driver Khalid Al Kendi in the auto category, where 31 crews representing 15 nations will be battling for the top honours.
The Polish duo of Aron Domzala and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk, who won the opening round of the World Cup last week in the frozen northern forests of Russia in an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, will be keen to maintain their lead at the top of the standings, while Russian Vladimir Vasilyev, the 2015 World Cup champion, will be hoping to shift gears in his Mini All4 Racing after finishing fifth on home turf.
"The contrast between two World Cup rounds could not be any greater, but that’s the challenge of cross country rallying at the top level and we’re looking forward to a classic desert event," Ben Sulayem said.
There will be a number of Emiratis in action over the weekend, including Mohammed Al Balooshi, who could be one of the top challengers to Sunderland in the moto category, which has attracted 38 riders from 12 countries.
Dave McBride, the UAE-based Briton, will also be fancying his chances as the returns to the scene of his triumph at the World Cup candidate event in December.
Ahmed Al Maqoodi, who was the winner of the auto division in the candidate event, will also be looking to impress as he returns to the deserts of Al Qudra in a T3 Polaris buggy, with Obaid Al Kitbi, the 2012 Desert Challenge quads champion, his co-driver.

Source: The National