Abdullah aims to ‘retain’ Desert Challenge T2 title
ABU DHABI, UAE, March 27: Nissan’s Adel Abdullah will be hoping to put the minor setback he incurred at the recent Dubai International Baja firmly to the back of his mind when he continues the defence of his FIA T2 World Championship title at next week’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan.
The event starts with a short spectator stage at the Al-Forsan International Resort on April 1 and finishes at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on April 6 after five punishing selective sections through the UAE’s notorious Empty Quarter or Rub Al-Khali.
The Qatari guided his powerful Nissan Patrol to the prestigious title for Series Production Cross-Country vehicles in last year’s FIA World Cup for CrossCountry Rallies and knows that a podium finish is crucial to his 2017 chances on this six-day third round of the series held across some of the remotest terrain in the UAE deserts.
Adel Abdullah and his French navigator Sébastien Delaunay have support from Nissan Middle East, Saleh Al-Hamad Al-Mana Co. and the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF), for their challenge for honours and have attracted additional backing from Ooredoo, the Qatari telecommunications company.
The crew finished third overall at the recent event in Dubai after early mechanical issues hindered their TOK Sport Nissan’s progress and they now lie second in the series sandwiched between the Saudi Arabian drivers Yasir Saeidan and Ahmed Al-Malki and closely pursued by Abu Dhabi’s Mansoor Al-Helai.
“I won this event last year but it is one of the toughest events in the calendar,” said Adel Abdullah. “This rally is long and the first of the three rounds of the championship so far where you score double points. It is completely different to the two Bajas in Russia and Dubai. At least I scored points at both of those rounds and I am second in the championship. My aim is to win the rally and, in so doing, I would be leading the championship. We have carried out some development work with the car and the team is confident that the hard work will pay off with a top result in Abu Dhabi.
“I am also delighted to confirm that
Earlier, Kenya’s women had swept the senior women’s 10km race in unprecedented fashion, with their team filling all the first six places, headed by national champion Cheptai, who maintained her season’s unbeaten record to strike gold in 31:57.
She finished four seconds clear of Alice Nawowuna with Lilian Rengeruk taking the bronze a further 10 seconds adrift.
Kenya’s day of dominance had begun with three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop leading the team to gold in the inaugural mixed relay race, followed by Ethiopia and Turkey.
Yet the hosts enjoyed their own crowning moment in front of the Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni when Jacob Kiplimo won the country’s first-ever cross country gold in the under-20 race.
Kenya headed the overall medal table, winning four golds and nine in total, with traditional rivals Ethiopia second on eight and Uganda third.
Ooredoo has come on board as an important sponsor for me and I would like to thank them, in addition to Saleh Al-Hamad Al-Mana Co, Nissan Middle East and the QMMF for their ongoing support.”
In a total route of around 2,073 km, competitors will tackle 1,324 km against the clock.