Bikes star among 72 riders and drivers to battle for honours in UAE’s new World Cup event as Sulayem shows way ahead for rallying.
New Dakar Rally bikes champion Sam Sunderland, making a first competitive appearance since his historic victory in South America, is in a powerful line-up of 72 riders and drivers tackling the new Dubai International Baja powered by AW Rostamani and Nissan this weekend.
Dubai-based Sunderland, who became the first ever British winner of the Dakar in January, is among 38 riders from 12 countries in the official entry list announced today by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the rally organisers.
Poland’s Aron Domzala and co-driver Szymon Gospodarczyk, who lead the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies after last week’s opening round victory in Russia in an Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux, are among 34 crews representing 15 nations who will battle for honours in the cars category through the dunes and sabkha plains of the Al Qudra Desert.
Forming the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup series for cars and buggies, the Dubai International Baja is also the opening round of the FIM Bajas World Cup for bikes and quads and is a key part of ATCUAE plans to create a bright new future for rallying.
“We’re very happy with the size and quality of entries in the first year and this is something that we’ll build on,