Major Enhancements For 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Bivouac moves alongside flagship Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort. Eurosport to programme daily coverage

Organisers of this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the Middle East’s most spectacular cross-country rally, have unveiled two major developments that will raise the international profile of the rally and its venue - Abu Dhabi’s beautiful Western Region of Al Gharbia - when it takes place from April 1-7.

This year, the endurance race base will be based at a greatly enhanced bivouac, next to the magnificent five-star Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, while an historic agreement between the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Eurosport means that, for the first time, a global television audience can follow all challenge action.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is organised by the Automobile and Touring Club of United Arab Emirates (ATCUAE) under the title sponsorship of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), and is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region.

The season-opener of the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship will see a number of notable changes, with competitors on motorbikes, quads, four-wheel drives and trucks using every bit of their mental, technical and physical reserves to battle through some of the world’s most beautiful yet challenging locations.

“The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a real test of a driver’s will to succeed. Simply finishing the entire rally is an achievement in itself, and anyone who does so deserves a lot of respect,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, vice-president of the FIA and chairman of the rally’s organising committee. “The top racers, though, are in a different class, and are among the best in the world and now, thanks to the new partnership with Eurosport, viewers from around the globe will be able to watch these stars in action.”

The most notable enhancement will be an all-new, world-class bivouac desert base. The new venue, which will focus the eyes of the world on Al Gharbia, will offer a unique contrast between the harshness of endurance rallying and the supreme luxury of the adjacent Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort.

This development is in line with the organisers’ long-standing commitment to make the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge more accessible to the public by allowing spectators to get closer to the action. The race will also feature new stages to make it even more spectator friendly, while still complying with strict safety requirements.

In a new initiative, a special organising committee has also been set up to engage all partners throughout the organisational process. These include the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, the UAE Armed Forces, Abu Dhabi Police, the Interior Affairs office, Civil Defence, the Western Region Municipality, the Rulers Representative Court in the Western Region, Qasr Al Sarab Desort Resort by Anantara, ADTA and ATCUAE.

The 2010 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge hosted more than 120 competitors from more than 20 countries in a six-day, 2,000 km journey through some of the Middle East’s toughest terrain. Marc Coma, riding for KTM, clinched the title in the Bikes category, while Leonid Novitskiy dominated in the Cars category, winning the title for team X-Raid. UAE rider Obaid Echtibi finished on top of the Quads standings.

The 2011 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is backed by a high-profile line-up of sponsors and supporters that includes Al Gharbia, ADNOC, Rotana - Yas Island, Al Ain Water, TAG Heuer, Explorer, Fed Ex and Nissan – the all-terrain Nissan Patrol is the official vehicle of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

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