Latest news with #NasserAl-Attiyah
Khaleej Times
26-02-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge roars towards thrilling finale
Competitors were taken to the limit and beyond by some of the largest dunes ever encountered on the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as the penultimate Al-Futtaim 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' teammate Luciano Benavides a further minute back in third place. Technically complex and physically demanding. Al-Futtaim Toyota 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. 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 Wednesday it provided sanctuary for Desert Challenge competitors, with many saying the massive dunes of Stage 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 15 th 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 Docherty 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. The final stage of this year's event, the Abu Dhabi Sports Council Stage 5, runs from Mezaira'a to Abu Dhabi covering a total of 364 kilometres, with just 167 kilometres of specials on the way to the glittering city of Abu Dhabi for the finish ramp and the prize-giving which this year will be held at beautiful Hudayriyat Island.
Khaleej Times
25-02-2025
- Automotive
- Khaleej Times
Severe winds turn Stage 3 of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge into a true test of grit and endurance
The 2025 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge entered its most demanding phase as drivers and riders embarked on the first part of an epic two-stage marathon into some of the most remote areas of the UAE. And the gruelling Stage 3 was made even tougher by fierce winds, eventually leading Race Control to halt running due to safety concerns. Usually only available to bike competitors, this year's marathon stage included cars for the first time. The 2025 edition also introduced the incredible Al Qua'a area to the Desert Challenge for the first time. Situated in the remote eastern region of Abu Dhabi, Al Qua'a is famed as the darkest place in the UAE. Known as the 'Milky Way Spot,' it's a favourite haunt for stargazers seeking the lowest levels of light pollution. This isolated location forms the perfect backdrop for the excitement of the marathon camp. Dacia's Nasser Al-Attiyah powered through to win the stage, beating Toyota Gazoo Racing's Seth Quintero by 3m 59s. Lucas Moraes, in another Toyota Hilux, finished half a minute further back in third. Al-Attiyah also moved into the overall lead, but a Dacia one-two was denied when Sébastien Loeb received a 2-minute penalty for speeding, dropping him to third overall, 1m 57s behind Moraes. In the bikes category, Monster Energy Honda HRC rider Tosha Schareina roared back to the top of the standings in Stage 3, beating Red Bull KTM Factory Team's Luciano Benavides by 2m 15s. Honda made it a double podium with Ricky Brabec securing third. Schareina's stage win vaults the Spaniard back to the overall lead, now 1m 19s ahead of Stage 2 winner Daniel Sanders and almost 2 minutes clear of third-placed Benavides. Red Bull KTM rider Sanders finished Stage 3 in sixth. In Rally 2, Michael Docherty continued his dominant run, securing his fourth straight stage win. The unstoppable SRG Motorsports rider outpaced Duust Rally Team's Konrad Dabrowski by 6m 27s, with SRG teammate Tobias Ebster two minutes further back in third. Docherty now holds a commanding 22m 18s lead over the Pole and 38m 17s over the Austrian. With the later-running Challenger and SSV classes halted by the winds, and in accordance with FIA regulations, Race Control will allocate times to affected competitors, with results to be published later. In Quads, Emirati racer Abdulaziz Ahli stormed to victory, finishing 11m 17s ahead of Poland's Marcin Wilkołek and over 22 minutes clear of Marek Łój, who now leads the overall classification.
Arab News
31-01-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Nasser Al-Attiyah praises success of motorsport in Saudi Arabia
HAIL: Qatari rally driver Nasser Al-Attiyah told Arab News on Friday that he is happy to be present at the 20th edition of the Hail Rally, a race he has won twice in the past. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
