(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Two-time Dakar Rally winner and reigning Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge champion Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar and the Mini All4 Racing of Russia's 2015 World Cup champion Vladimir Vasilyev will lead a galaxy of stars at the Dubai International Baja this weekend.
The UAE's new entry into World Cup cross country rallying sees the world's best drivers and riders rubbing shoulders with local privateers and enthusiasts on an international stage this weekend.
Launched as part of the initiative to revive rallying in the Emirates and the Middle East, the Dubai International Baja powered by AW Rostamani and Nissan already looks to be taking the sport in the right direction.
In recent years, the decline of rallying in the region has been seen by falling numbers of entries in both local and international events, a point emphasied by the fact that only four cars started the recent opening round of this year's FIA Middle East Rally Championship in Doha.
By comparison, the Dubai International Baja has attracted a line-up of 102 competitors drivers, riders and co-drivers from 19 Middle East and overseas countries, 31 from the host country, for an intriguing two-day test in the Al Qudra desert.
The quality of entries in Dubai is impressive for the Dubai race. A powerful assembly of T1 prototype cars along with new Dakar bikes champion Sam Sunderland back in action on home territory on his KTM.
'It's a good start, and we're confident that the numbers will grow year on year because this 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.
The Nissan Patrol is the official car for the UAE's second FIA World Cup event.
The main advantages of baja events over conventional rallying are that they are more suited to the desert, and more affordable, being open to quads, bikes and buggies as well as 4WD cars.
Sharing the World Cup stage are Emirati and UAE-based drivers and riders stepping up from the Emirates Desert Championship, a series of short course baja events run on Friday mornings and attracting above 100 entries on occasions since being launched by the ATCUAE who features in the national class in a Yamaha YHZ with Lebanese co-driver Joseph Matar.
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