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	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

1. http://www.abudhabidesertchallenge.com/mohammed-ben-sulayem.aspx
2. http://www.emirates247.com/sports/local/abu-dhabi-set-for-world-class-desert-challenge-2014-04-03-1.544220
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
4. http://www.sport360.com/article/uae/19837/atcuae-extends-partnership-nissan-abu-dhabi-desert-challenge
5. 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

External links

• Official website
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