DUBAI, UAE – The rolling dunes and plains of Al Qudra desert provide a dramatic stage this weekend when the Dubai International Baja powered by Nissan and AW Rostamani delivers another exhilarating chapter of World Cup cross country rallying at its best.
Taking place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, the event is the second round of this year's FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and buggies and the opening round of the FIM Bajas World Cup for bikes and quads.
"We are proud to be sponsoring this event for a second year, as the motorsports scene in the UAE continues to grow from strength to strength," said Kalyana Sivagnanam, Nissan president for Middle East & Regional Vice President for Africa, Middle East and India. "Nissan is deeply committed to advancing motorsports and rallying around the world, and the Dubai International Baja is a significant event that is enjoyed by enthusiasts and fans in the UAE and abroad."
انضموا إلينا لتشاهدوا أقوى تجمع لمحترفي السابقات في بطولة رالي دبي باجا الدولية من ٨ إلى ١٠ مارس, حيث يتنافسون للحصول على اللقب الكبير في صحراء القدرة في #دبي! #نيسان pic.twitter.com/2JHdTW83YJ
— Nissan Middle East (@NissanME) March 7, 2018
Video hosted on Twitter may not play in Internet Explorer (IE). If the video above does not play and you are using IE, try a different browser.
Pictured is (back row, left to right): Abdulla Bin Dakhan, Shannon O’Connor, Mansour Al Helei, Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, Mohammed Al Balooshi, Yasir Seaidan, Abdulla Al Heraiz, Essa Al Dossary. Front row (left to right): Tariq Ahmed Al Wahedi, CEO, Agthia Group PJSC; Salah Yamout, Director of Sales & Marketing for Nissan, Infiniti & Renault - Arabian Automobiles; Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE and Emirates Motor Sport Federation; Yolande Pineda, Director Corporate Communications Nissan Middle East; and Faisal Al Sahlawi, General Manager, Dubai Autodrome.
Launched last year by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) to underline a new direction for rallying in the Emirates, the event has attracted an impressive lineup of 88 competitors from 19 countries for its second edition, and two days of spectacular action is about to unfold.
The cars, buggies, bikes and quads will be flagged away from the ceremonial start at Dubai Autodrome, the new Rally HQ, at 5 pm tomorrow night (March 8) in an event supported by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality and the General Authority of Sports.
"This is a very exciting event as it points the way ahead for rallying in the UAE and the Gulf region as a whole," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the ATCUAE and the Emirates Motor Sport Federation, and FIA Vice President for sport, at today's official press conference. "The baja format of rallying is naturally more suited to our desert terrain, and the appeal it has for drivers and riders is emphasized by the number and quality of entries."
The Nissan Patrol is the official car for the Dubai International Baja, and Emirati Abdulla Al Heraiz partnered by Omani co-driver Abdul Haleem drives one of five entered for the World Cup rally.
The powerful lineup of cars, buggies, bikes and quads tackle a demanding 174 km special stage running through the dramatic Al Qudra desert terrain on Friday and again the following morning, with the event finishing at Dubai Autodrome on Saturday, March 10.
For more information about Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.’s products, services and our commitment to sustainable mobility, visit Nissan-Global.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, and view our latest videos on YouTube.