Attiyah retains lead, Sanders inches closer to title
Competitors were taken to the limit and beyond by some of the largest dunes ever encountered on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) as the penultimate Stage 4 of the 2025 edition provided a supreme test of technical skill and stamina on the way to the finish line at the iconic Al Dhafra Fort.
And the 2025 Desert Challenge is set for a thrilling final charge to the city of Abu Dhabi after third place in Wednesday's gruelling stage earned Dacia Sandriders' Nasser Al Attiyah a slim overall lead over the twin Toyota Gazoo Racing cars of Luca Moraes and Seth Quintero. Victory in the penultimate stage of this year's epic event went to another Toyota driver, Eryk Goczal, with the 20-year-old Overdrive Racing man claiming a first Desert Challenge stage victory and his first in the top Ultimate Class.
In the bikes, Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider Daniel Sanders looks on course to take his first Desert Challenge win as a second stage win of the event has given him a 7min 23s overall advantage over Monster Energy Honda HRC rider Ricky Brabec, with Sanders' team-mate Luciano Benavides a further minute back in third place.
Technically complex and physically demanding. Stage 4 really mixed things up with a 300 km route from the Marathon Camp at Al Qua'a that featured multiple types of terrain. Equal parts sand, dunes, wadis and tarmac, the stage took competitors across some of the world's largest dunes, into the area known as White Sands and then to incredible Al Dhafra fort.
Built in 2017 in the style of the traditional defensive structures of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, the spectacular fort acts as the gateway to the Al Dhafra region, which makes up 70% of the emirate's territory.
Forts such as Al Dhafra provided site of refuge for the population in times of trouble and today it provided sanctuary for Desert Challenge competitors, with many saying the massive dunes of Stag 4 were among the largest and most difficult they had ever encountered.
At the end of the stage, though, Sanders took the bikes win more than three minutes clear of Monster Energy Honda HRC rival Adrien Van Beveren. In doing so the rider known as 'Chucky' scored his 15th W2RC stage win, one shy of record holder Van Beveren. Third place went to Hero Motorsports' José Ignacio Cornejo.
In Rally 2, Dubai-based Michael Docherty is on track to become the first rider in his class to complete a clean sweep of stages in a W2RC round. The SRG Motorsports rider, who hails from South Africa, used his thorough knowledge of the terrain to take his fifth stage win of the event (including the Qualifying Stage) ahead of Duust Rally Team's Konrad Dąbrowski and Old Friends Rally Team rider Martin Ventura. The win means that going into the final day has extended his advantage over Dąbrowski to a whopping 28 minutes.
In the cars, the fourth stage of the 2025 Desert Challenge was standout success for Toyota, with a 1-2 finish for the company and with six Toyotas in the top 10.
Commenting on the success, Jacques Brent, Managing Director Al Futtaim Motors, said: 'At Al-Futtaim Toyota we take pride in being part of EMSO's 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge starting from the beautiful city of Al Ain. Much like this challenge, Toyota's Motorsport heritage is also about endurance, performance and achievement.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
5 days ago
- Zawya
Toyota to take private key unit in $26bln deal
TOKYO - Toyota Motor will take private a key supplier of its group, it said on Tuesday, in a $26 billion deal, marking a landmark repositioning of Japan's most important corporation. Under the terms of the deal, unlisted real estate company Toyota Fudosan will launch a tender offer for shares of Toyota Industries for 3.7 trillion yen ($26 billion), the companies said. Separately, Toyota said it plans to buy back its own shares from Toyota Industries. Japanese companies have come under growing scrutiny from the market regulator and investors in recent years about their cross-shareholdings in affiliates and business partners, sparking a rise in both management buyouts and acquisitions. Many of the deals have been driven by expectations that a corporate governance overhaul will bring better shareholder returns. Toyota had said in April it was considering participating in a potential buyout of Toyota Industries - a move that sources have said would help improve the group's corporate governance. Toyota owned about 24% of Toyota Industries as of September last year, while Toyota Industries held around 9% of the world's biggest automaker and more than 5% of Denso, another major Toyota supplier and Toyota group company. Toyota Industries, formerly Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, was founded in 1926 by Sakichi Toyoda to make automatic looms. An automotive division within the company was set up and later spun off as Toyota Motor. In addition to forklifts, Toyota Industries manufactures the RAV4 sport utility vehicle for Toyota and also produces car parts such as engines, air-conditioning compressors, batteries and converters. ($1 = 142.6500 yen)
Gulf Today
01-06-2025
- Gulf Today
Qatari driver Al Attiyah notches up 17th victory at Jordan Rally
Qatar's Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah won all but one of the 12 gravel special stages on his way to a comfortable 17th victory in the Jordan Rally on Saturday. The success took the iconic Škoda Fabia RS driver to a record 90th career MERC rally win, as he closes in on an unprecedented 20th regional title since 2003. The new partnership with his Spanish co-driver Candido Carrera has a 100% winning record with the duo now taking victories at the opening four rounds of this year's FIA Middle East Rally Championship in Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and now Jordan. Al-Attiyah: 'I am so happy to win again here in Jordan for the 17th time. This means a lot to me. This year we have won every rally so far. It feels like a good year, leading the Middle East Championship and leading the W2RC. For this rally, I will give it 10 out of 10. Today, we controlled the pace and tried to make a gap in case we had a puncture.' Abdullah Al-Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud maintained the pressure on the Qatari throughout day one but a time-consuming puncture delayed the Omani on Saturday's opening Panorama stage and a second issue on stage 10 proved too much for the 2023 regional champion. He finished second overall. Al-Rawahi said: 'It was a long two days for us. The first day was quite good, especially with the pace and we were very close to Nasser. Unfortunately, today we had some punctures and we lost some time. Overall, we are very happy with our performance. It has been the closest we have been to him in the battle. 'We don't really have enough seat time in the car. After this rally I have three months off not really driving my car. My car is also an older generation and there is experience difference between me and Nasser. That is why it is good that he is in the championship. He helps us to push and get closer to him. It is still good. We wanted to win but we are still happy.' Qatar's Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari and his Irish co-driver Lorcan Moore tried different set-ups with their Citroën C3 but struggled to match the pace of the leading duo on this occasion. They did enough to round off the podium places. Rakan Al-Rashed's main target was to finish the event and the Saudi again teamed up with Portugal's Hugo Magalhāes in a Jameel Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris. Cruelly, his Yaris sustained substantial damage after an accident on the penultimate stage he was forced out. Lebanese driver Bassel Abu Hamdan and his co-driver Firas Elias benefitted from his demise to round off the top four in a Škoda Fabia. Oman's Abdullah Al-Zubair led the MERC2 field from start-to-finish with co-driver Taha Al-Tadjali to strengthen his push for the overall title. Fellow countryman Zakariya Al-Aamri had arrived in Jordan with a 15-point lead over Al-Zubair but his rival's success and fifth place overall has thrown the battle wide open with two rallies remaining. Al-Aamri finished second in the category and eighth overall. Al-Zubair said: 'We are happy with this result, It is a very difficult race. It is also very hot. It was our first time here. The first day we were flat out and won every stage. Today, we took it slow. We had a good lead and the strategy paid off.' Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya continued his run of consistent form to bring his Ford Fiesta to the Dead Sea finish in sixth overall with co-driver Ziad Chehab. That result was sufficient for the Qatari veteran to seal success in the inaugural FIA Master MERC Championship with two rounds to run. The Jordanian duo of Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez and Shadi Shaban were classified in seventh and ninth overall. Tenth place was sufficient for Rashid Al-Mohannadi to take victory over Saad Al-Harqan and Payyaakkal 'Saneem' Panikkaveettil in the FIA MERC4 category and to seal the championship title in his Peugeot 208 with two rounds to spare. Al-Rawahi earned victory in the second round of the Jordan National Championship with Shaker Jweihan claiming second place ahead of Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez. A first pass through the iconic Panorama stage of 17.12km opened proceedings on the final morning. Palestine's Hamada Uda was the only driver not to restart. Outside temperatures were already up to 31°C at the start of the stage with a peak of 37°C in the afternoon. Surface cleaning was evident on the opener but Al-Attiyah laid down the gauntlet with a time of 11min 38.0sec. That smashed the existing stage record by six seconds. Al-Rawahi dropped 32.3 seconds with tyre damage on a front-right wheel and that enabled Al-Attiyah to extend his lead to 45.8 seconds. Al-Kuwari was second quickest but remained a long way behind the leading duo. Al-Zubair continued to dominate MERC2 from sixth overall but Mohammed Al-Shorafa was in trouble and retired with broken steering.
Khaleej Times
30-05-2025
- Khaleej Times
Car review: Lexus LX 700h is the latest power player on the road
The launch of the all-new fourth-generation Lexus LX alongside the Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 was among the most anticipated automotive events in 2021, and ever since, they've been selling like hot shawarma. Now, the range includes a hybrid variant, LX 700h, the most powerful and fuel-efficient LX yet. But with a steep starting price of Dh590,000, is it really worth twice as much as an LC300? DESIGN & AESTHETICS Yes, the Lexus LX is the Land Cruiser's cousin, but it carries a grand identity of its own. This full-size SUV (5100x1990x1895 mm) has a certain visual heft, second only to the Escalade. But it's not just about size — it's about exaggerated details. The massive spindle grille — arguably with one slat too many—and angular headlamps with triple-eye LED units give it a commanding face. Then, there's that tall, brawny hood, which has a central concave indentation to improve forward visibility. Its traditional two-box silhouette adds to the robust stance, while the giant 22-inch forged multi-spoke alloy wheels lend it a touch of sophisticated chic. At the rear, the tailpipe is kept hidden, as a subtle nod to its green credentials. The LX 700h may seem bold and edgy to some or marginally overstyled to others, but it undeniably looks premium — ready to take you to your next board meeting or dinner soirée in glitzy Dubai. Keeping the ride height in mind, Lexus equipped it with a side step and an A-pillar grab handle to aid entry. And like an electric chauffeur, the soft-closing doors take care of themselves if left ajar. Inside, the cabin is as luxurious as expected from Lexus, featuring leather-draped surfaces, beautiful wood trims, and large tech-rich screens — all showcasing impeccable build quality. The uncommon dual-screen setup consists of a 12.3-inch screen for navigation and media, and a seven-inch display just below for drive modes and climate control. However, while the centre console looks sophisticated, the clutter of buttons makes it feel operationally complicated. The leather and wood steering wheel is a delight to grip, and it's complemented by large, well-placed controls. Right behind it sits a digital instrument cluster with vivid, configurable graphics. In terms of accommodations, the second row is roomy, but not vast, and the third row — while offering separate vents and USB ports — forces knees-up seating due to a high floor. And, surprisingly, there's no panoramic sunroof. POWERTRAIN & PERFORMANCE You can start the LX 700h with a fancy fingerprint sensor on the push-start switch although its placement may lead to you confusing it with infotainment control. Like the LX 600/LC300, it houses a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6, but here it's paired with a single electric motor powered by a small nickel-metal hydride battery. This setup delivers smooth, broad power, while the shift-by-wire transmission and stubby toggle-style shifter ensure seamless gear changes. Combined output is 457 PS and 790 Nm — a solid jump from the LX 600's 409 hp and 650 Nm — but the added weight somewhat negates the advantage. On the road, the LX 700h glides almost like a luxury limo over rough patches and feels more refined than the LC300. However, there's noticeable body roll during quick manoeuvres. In our 0–100kmph acceleration sprints, it consistently clocked under 7.5 seconds — about the same as its siblings — and despite being a hybrid, fuel economy wasn't much better either, returning a dismal 5.4kmpl. A plug-in hybrid powertrain would've made more sense at this price. Off-road credentials remain strong, thanks to a four-wheel drive system with a Torsen limited-slip differential, Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select modes, and hydraulic suspension that adjusts ride height. Still, it's unlikely the first or second owner will venture off-road — but if you must, opt for the Overtrail variant with the 18-inch knobby tyres. FEATURES & FUNCTIONALITY Luggage space behind the third row is minimal at around 200 litres, but folding down both the second and third rows expands it to nearly 1,800 litres. Inside, there's a large central cool box up front — accessible from the left, right, and rear — and in the boot, a three-point plug that's handy for a laptop or grill. It can also tow up to 3,500kg. The 25-speaker Mark Levinson audio system delivers superb fidelity. The infotainment also supports wireless Apple CarPlay, allowing use of preferred navigation and music apps. However, the voice assistant is sluggish, and wireless charging speed is average. Rear passengers are treated to dual 11.4-inch screens, an HDMI port for game consoles, and two USB-C ports. The four-zone climate control is powerful, and features like ventilated, heated, and five-mode massaging front seats reinforce the luxury vibe. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 offers comprehensive driver assistance technology, but standout features include digital rear-view mirrors for unobstructed visibility and a 360-degree monitor with a clever underbody view — though its feed occasionally interrupts screen functions. VERDICT The brand Lexus was created to win over luxury buyers by delivering real value through exceptional build quality, executive styling, and cossetting features at a relatively affordable price. The 2025 Lexus LX 700h attempts to do this. However, the cluttered centre console detracts from usability, the hybrid system offers little real-world advantage, and the price is steep. It's a good luxury SUV in isolation — but is it worth twice as much as a Land Cruiser, or better than its ICE-powered LX 600 sibling? I'm not so sure. That said, Lexus' renowned reliability and strong resale value make it a better long-term ownership bet than many rivals. SPECIFICATIONS Body type — 7-seater; 5-door premium full-size SUV Engine — Front-engine; twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 + e-motor; four-wheel drive Transmission — 10-speed automatic Peak output — 457 PS (system total); 409 PS @ 5,200 rpm (ICE) + 54 PS (e-motor) - 790 Nm (system total); 650 Nm @ 2,000 - 3,600 rpm + 290 Nm (e-motor) 0 to 100kmph — sub-7.5 seconds (estimated) Top speed — 210 kmph (drag limited; estimated) Price — Starting at Dh590,000 Editor's rating: 7.5/10 KT Luxe
