Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge gears up for 2024 edition
Focus on Al Dhafra region (February 25-March 2, 2024)
The anticipation is building for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) as it enters its 33rd edition, promising an extraordinary rally with competitors from around the globe ready to tackle a challenging new route.
Presented by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council and organised by Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMSO), the rally, a pivotal event in the FIA and FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, is set to push the competitors’ limits from February 25 to March 2, 2024.
Dakar Rally 2024 players
With key Dakar Rally 2024 competitors like Carlos Sainz and Ricky Brabec leading the provisional standings, ADDC 2024 promises to deliver spectacular action. The rally will explore new territory, marking the furthest west the event has ever been.
The rally aims to bring the challenge closer to the public, featuring a two-night bivouac in Al Dhannah City and, for the first time, a second rally bivouac in Mezair’ah to the south. This move aligns with the Abu Dhabi government’s policy of integrating major sporting events into local communities.
Following the scrutineering of competitors’ vehicles on February 25, the ADDC begins on February 26 with the 5km ADNOC Oasis Prologue stage in Al Dhannah City, followed by Stage 1 (The Ruler’s Representative Court in Al Dhafra region) on February 27.
Stage 2 (ADNOC Distribution) on February 28 takes participants across 240km of the desert to the oasis at Mezair’ah.
The following days include challenging stages, such as Stage 4 (Al-Futtaim-Toyota) on March 1 and Stage 5 (Abu Dhabi Aviation) on March 2, concluding with an awards ceremony in the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre.
Arduous routing
Facing the towering dunes of Liwa, navigating tricky stretches of quicksand, and contending with the challenges of heat and hydration, drivers hailing from various corners of the globe have geared up for one of the most arduous routes on the ADDC calendar.
ADDC 2024 has attracted all of the top 20 ranked rally raid drivers in the world championship, with seasoned competitors like Guerlain Chicherit, the 2009 winner, and Martin Prokop, the 2018 victor, among the contenders.
Notable participants include desert experts Nasser Al Attiyah and Yazeed Al Rahji.
A major transfer in the off-road racing world was Al Attiyah’s move to Prodrive after a six-year stint with Toyota. However, his 2024 Dakar journey was marred by technical issues, leading to his withdrawal from the race.
Adding to the changes, Al Attiyah severed ties with his longtime French co-driver Mathieu Baumel, replaced by Edouard Boulanger, former co-pilot of rally legend Stéphane Peterhansel. Their inaugural race as a team will be the upcoming ADDC.
Yazeed Al Rajhi faced challenges during the Dakar, rolling in the Empty Quarter. The first and second-place finishers at the 2023 W2RC aim for redemption in the 2024 ADDC. Despite setbacks, the new W2RC regulations allowed both drivers to accrue points, with Al Attiyah currently holding the 8th position with 18 points and reigning ADDC title holder Al Rajhi positioned 12th with 14 points.
Last year’s T3 winner, Seth Quintero, transitioned to the Ultimate category with Toyota Gazoo Racing and currently sits at 26th in the overall classification.
New Challenger team
In the Challenger category, Taurus, a new team, has enlisted the services of Argentinian Nicolàs Cavigliasso, a former quad rider. The team aims to challenge the dominance of established teams like Can-Am and South Racing Can-Am.
Among the two-wheel entries, Hero Motosport’s Ross Branch, a civilian airline pilot by profession, is set to compete against Jean-Loup Lepan from the Duust Rally Racing team, who secured the second position in his category last year, along with teammate Konrad Dabrowski.
All eyes are on Tobias Ebster, the nephew of ex-KTM rider and two-time ADDC winner Heinz Kinigadner. Ebster, the Rally2 winner at the ADDC 2023, is anticipated to be a standout performer.
In the quad category, UAE rider Abdulaziz Ahli, who swept all ADDC stages last year, faces competition from Saudi neighbour Hani Alnoumesi, a dune specialist, and Poland’s Kamil Wisniewski, a regular on the international circuit.
Nearer to community
The evolution of the ADDC route, including Al Dhannah and Mezair’Ah in the Liwa region, marks significant progress, bringing the event closer to rally-raid fans and contributing to the development of these areas.
Bader Saeed Al Lamki, CEO of ADNOC Distribution, said: “We are pleased to extend our long-standing partnership with Emirates Motorsports Organisation, becoming the official energy partner of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2024.”
The rally’s competitors will receive the highest-grade fuel for optimal motor performance, with ADNOC Distribution providing refuelling stations along the challenging 250-kilometre course, including the remote off-road areas of the imposing Empty Quarter.
Challenging off-road terrain
Speaking to ‘Middle East News 247’ in Dubai on February 22, 2024, Albert Mahesh, a seasoned off-road marshal/off-road instructor Weekends with Albert) and a key member of the ADDC 2024 rally route team, noted that competitors in this year’s cross-country rally raid will have to bring on their best dune-negotiating skills in the new western section, with several challenging quarters bound to test competitors’ skills to the hilt.
Known and respected as the ‘Desert Fox,’ Albert and fellow support crew members will operate checkpoints and be on hand to deliver off-road assistance to the ADDC competitors.
ADDC 2024 is being held under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.
The event’s key sponsors include Al-Futtaim Toyota, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Al Ain Water, the Ministry of Defence, UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Police, Civil Defence, Abu Dhabi Distribution Co, and Al Dhafra Region Municipality.
Featured image: Juan Cruz Yacopini in action in the 32nd edition of the ADDC. Image: EMSO
Last Updated on 10 months by Arnold Pinto
