Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is an international rally raid race held in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates since 1991. The race is points scoring for the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and is organized by the Automobile & Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates (ATCUAE), the sole representative of the FIA and the FIM in the country, headed by the event founder Mohammed bin Sulayem. [1]
Originally for cars only, motorcycles and quads are allowed since 1995 and trucks since 2002.[2][3]
The event was originally known as the UAE Desert Challenge, since it spanned several emirates of the country. Since 2009, the route includes five stages (plus a Super Special stage) entirely across Abu Dhabi emirate, and the title changed to the current one.[4] [5]
Winners
Cars
| Year | Driver | Codriver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 |  Mohammed Mattar |
Hassan Ali Bin Shahdoor |
Land Rover Defender |
| 1992 | Mohammed Mattar |
Hassan Ali Bin Shahdoor |
Land Rover Defender |
| 1993 |  Saeed Al-Hajri |
 Henri Magne |
Land Rover Defender |
| 1994 | Jean-Louis Schlesser |
– | Schlesser |
| 1995 | Jean-Louis Schlesser |
– | Schlesser |
| 1996 | Bruno Saby |
Dominique Serieys |
Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1997 |  Ari Vatanen |
 Fred Gallagher |
Citroën Rally Raid |
| 1998 | Jean-Pierre Fontenay |
Gilles Picard |
Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 1999 | Jean-Louis Schlesser |
Henri Magne |
Schlesser Renault |
| 2000 | Jean-Louis Schlesser |
.svg.png){kind=small} Jean-Marie Lurquin |
Schlesser Renault |
| 2001 | Jean-Louis Schlesser |
Henri Magne |
Schlesser Mégane |
| 2002 | Stéphane Peterhansel |
Jean-Paul Cottret |
Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2003 | Stéphane Peterhansel |
Jean-Paul Cottret |
Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2004 |  Hiroshi Masuoka |
 Andreas Schulz |
Mitsubishi Pajero |
| 2005 | Stéphane Peterhansel |
Jean-Paul Cottret |
Mitsubishi Evo |
| 2006 | Luc Alphand |
Gilles Picard |
Mitsubishi Evo |
| 2007 | Stéphane Peterhansel |
Jean-Paul Cottret |
Mitsubishi Evo |
| 2008 | Nasser Al-Attiyah |
 Tina Thörner |
BMW X3 |
| 2009 | Guerlain Chicherit |
Tina Thörner |
BMW X3 |
| 2010 |  Leonid Novitskiy |
Andreas Schulz |
BMW X3 |
| 2011 | Stéphane Peterhansel |
Jean-Paul Cottret |
Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2012 | Jean-Louis Schlesser |
Konstantin Zhiltsov |
Schlesser Buggy |
| 2013 |  Nani Roma |
Michel Perin |
Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2014 | Vladimir Vasilyev |
Konstantin Zhiltsov |
Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2015 | Vladimir Vasilyev |
Konstantin Zhiltsov |
Mini All 4 Racing |
| 2016 | Nasser Al-Attiyah |
Mathieu Baumel |
Toyota Hilux Overdrive |
Motorcycles
| Year | Rider | Motorcycle |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 |  Heinz Kinigadner |
KTM LC4 |
| 1996 | Stéphane Peterhansel |
Yamaha M3 |
| 1997 | Jordi Arcarons |
KTM 660 |
| 1998 | Heinz Kinigadner |
KTM LC4 660 |
| 1999 |  Fabrizio Meoni |
KTM 660 |
| 2000 |  Jimmy Lewis |
BMW 900 RR |
| 2001 | Cyril Despres |
KTM 660 |
| 2002 | Cyril Despres |
KTM 660 |
| 2003 | Cyril Despres |
KTM 660 |
| 2004 | Isidre Esteve |
KTM 660 |
| 2005 | Cyril Despres |
KTM 660 |
| 2006 | Marc Coma |
KTM 660 |
| 2007 | Marc Coma |
KTM 660 |
| 2008 | Cyril Despres |
KTM 690 |
| 2009 | Marc Coma |
KTM 690 |
| 2010 | Marc Coma |
KTM 690 Rally |
| 2011 | Marc Coma |
KTM 450 Rally |
| 2012 | Marc Coma |
KTM 450 Rally |
| 2013 | Marc Coma |
KTM 450 Rally |
| 2014 |  Paulo Gonçalves |
Honda |
| 2015 | Marc Coma |
KTM 450 Rally |
| 2016 |  Toby Price |
KTM 450 Rally |
References
- ↑ http://www.abudhabidesertchallenge.com/mohammed-ben-sulayem.aspx
- ↑ http://www.emirates247.com/sports/local/abu-dhabi-set-for-world-class-desert-challenge-2014-04-03-1.544220
- ↑ http://www.fia.com/championship/world-cup-cross-country-rallies/2014/calendar
- ↑ http://www.sport360.com/article/uae/19837/atcuae-extends-partnership-nissan-abu-dhabi-desert-challenge
- ↑ http://www.abudhabidesertchallenge.com/about-us.aspx
Large MINI contingent at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge // Dakar winner Joan “Nani” Roma starts in the MINI ALL4 Racing Paulo Gonçalves wins 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge