Desert Championship attracts foreign interest

The Emirates Desert Championship is a five-round series organized by Atcuae.

dubai - The Emirates Desert Championship, the UAE's national baja rally championship for cars, buggies, motorcycles and quads, continues to grow with over 103 confirmed entries across all classes for the second round this weekend, including several travelling from overseas just for the event.
 
As well as the regular competitors coming from Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, an increasing amount of Europe-based competitors are being attracted to the event for its excellent reputation for safety and organization, as well as spectacular desert terrain.
 
"The new season is now fully underway, and year on year, more foreign competitors are coming to race and rally in the UAE", said Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (Atcuae) president Mohammed Ben Sulayem.
 
"As the cold European winter closes in, many see the UAE as an ideal destination to race for the next few months, and we are more than happy to welcome them along. It is also perfect timing for those in the sport of Cross Country Rallying, as competitors can come do some training here ahead of the big international events such as the Dakar Rally taking place at the start of 2017. Our desert is second to known and we are fortunate to have it available to us."
 
Among those coming from Europe for the second round are Swedish driver Annie Seel, returning to the UAE having greatly enjoyed her first Emirates Desert Championship experience in October, as well as Russian driver Nikita Abramov, making his debut in a desert event. Both will be competing as part of the Saluki Motorsport Team, in a Polaris RZR and T1 SsangYong Musso respectively. Also making his debut will be Swedish rider Mathias Holmberg, having previously taken part in the FIM World Championship Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Mathias plans to make the trip to the UAE a family affair with his young son planning to compete in the Dubai Motocross Club Championship while they are here.
 
Following his buggy win at the opening round, Briton Mark Powell will have to contend with last season's champion Ahmed Al Fahim, who will be taking part with the Polaris UAE Racing Team, having missed the opening event of the season. In the motorcycle event, round one winner Sam Sunderland will be sitting this event as he is in Europe preparing for the Dakar Rally, so last season's champion Ross Runnalls will be keen to pick up his first win of the year, but will be challenged all the way by Mohamed Al Balooshi and Mohammed Jaffar.
 
The Emirates Desert Championship is a five-round series organized by Atcuae and the Emirates Motor Sport Federation (EMSF), with the remaining three rounds of the championship scheduled for January 20, 2017, February 3 and February 17.