Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

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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 World Rally-Raid Championship and is organized by the Automobile & Touring Club of the United Arab Emirates (ATCUAE), [1] headed by the event founder Mohammed bin Sulayem. [2]

Contents

Originally for cars only, motorcycles and quads are allowed since 1995 and trucks since 2002. [3] [4]

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 within the Abu Dhabi emirate, and the title changed to the current one. [5] [6]

Winners

Cars

YearDriverCodriverCar
1991 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Mohammed Mattar Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Hassan Ali Bin Shahdoor Land Rover Defender
1992 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Mohammed Mattar Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Hassan Ali Bin Shahdoor Land Rover Defender
1993 Flag of Qatar.svg Saeed Al-Hajri Flag of France.svg Henri Magne Land Rover Defender
1994 Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser Buggy Schlesser
1995 Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser Buggy Schlesser
1996 Flag of France.svg Bruno Saby Flag of France.svg Dominique Serieys Mitsubishi Pajero
1997 Flag of Finland.svg Ari Vatanen Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fred Gallagher Citroën Rally Raid
1998 Flag of France.svg Jean-Pierre Fontenay Flag of France.svg Gilles Picard Mitsubishi Pajero
1999 Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser Flag of France.svg Henri Magne Buggy Schlesser
2000 Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Jean-Marie Lurquin Buggy Schlesser
2001 Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser Flag of France.svg Henri Magne Buggy Schlesser
2002 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of France.svg Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Pajero
2003 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of France.svg Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Pajero
2004 Flag of Japan.svg Hiroshi Masuoka Flag of Germany.svg Andreas Schulz Mitsubishi Pajero
2005 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of France.svg Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Evo
2006 Flag of France.svg Luc Alphand Flag of France.svg Gilles Picard Mitsubishi Evo
2007 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of France.svg Jean-Paul Cottret Mitsubishi Evo (8)
2008 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of Sweden.svg Tina Thörner BMW X3
2009 Flag of France.svg Guerlain Chicherit Flag of Sweden.svg Tina Thörner BMW X3
2010 Flag of Russia.svg Leonid Novitskiy Flag of Germany.svg Andreas Schulz BMW X3
2011 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of France.svg Jean-Paul Cottret Mini All 4 Racing
2012 Flag of France.svg Jean-Louis Schlesser Flag of Russia.svg Konstantin Zhiltsov Buggy Schlesser
2013 Flag of Spain.svg Nani Roma Flag of France.svg Michel Perin Mini All 4 Racing
2014 Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir Vasilyev Flag of Russia.svg Konstantin Zhiltsov Mini All 4 Racing
2015 Flag of Russia.svg Vladimir Vasilyev Flag of Russia.svg Konstantin Zhiltsov Mini All 4 Racing
2016 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of France.svg Mathieu Baumel Toyota Hilux Overdrive
2017 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Sh. Khalid Al Qassimi Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Khalid Al Kendi Peugeot 3008 DKR
2018 Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Martin Prokop Flag of the Czech Republic.svg David Pabiška Ford F-150 Evo
2019 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of Germany.svg Andrea Peterhansel Mini JCW Rally X-Raid
2020Not held
2021 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of France.svg Mathieu Baumel Toyota Hilux Overdrive
2022 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Edouard Boulanger Audi RS Q e-tron
2023 Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg Yazeed Al-Rajhi Flag of Germany.svg Timo Gottschalk Toyota Hilux Overdrive
2024 Flag of Qatar.svg Nasser Al-Attiyah Flag of France.svg Édouard Boulanger Prodrive Hunter

Motorcycles

YearRiderMotorcycle
1995 Flag of Austria.svg Heinz Kinigadner KTM LC4
1996 Flag of France.svg Stéphane Peterhansel Yamaha M3
1997 Flag of Spain.svg Jordi Arcarons KTM 660
1998 Flag of Austria.svg Heinz Kinigadner KTM LC4 660
1999 Flag of Italy.svg Fabrizio Meoni KTM 660
2000 Flag of the United States.svg Jimmy Lewis BMW 900 RR
2001 Flag of France.svg Cyril Despres KTM 660
2002 Flag of France.svg Cyril Despres KTM 660
2003 Flag of France.svg Cyril Despres KTM 660
2004 Flag of Spain.svg Isidre Esteve KTM 660
2005 Flag of France.svg Cyril Despres KTM 660
2006 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 660
2007 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 660
2008 Flag of France.svg Cyril Despres KTM 690
2009 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 690
2010 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 690 Rally
2011 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally
2012 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally
2013 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally
2014 Flag of Portugal.svg Paulo Gonçalves Honda
2015 Flag of Spain.svg Marc Coma KTM 450 Rally
2016 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Toby Price KTM 450 Rally
2017 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Sunderland KTM 450 Rally
2018 Flag of Chile.svg Pablo Quintanilla Husqvarna 450 Rally
2019 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Sunderland KTM 450 Rally
2020Not held
2021 Flag of Austria.svg Matthias Walkner KTM 450 Rally
2022 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sam Sunderland Gas Gas 450 Rally Factory Replica
2023 Flag of France.svg Adrien Van Beveren Honda CRF 450 Rally
2024 Flag of South Africa.svg Aaron Marè Hero 450 Rally

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References

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  2. ".AbuDhabi Desert Challenge". Archived from the original on 2015-04-26. Retrieved 2015-06-21.
  3. "Abu Dhabi set for world-class Desert Challenge - Sports - Local - Emirates24|7".
  4. "Calendar | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile". Archived from the original on 2014-03-24. Retrieved 2014-04-10.
  5. "ATCUAE extends partnership with Nissan for Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge - Sport360 News".
  6. "Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge". Archived from the original on 2015-04-25. Retrieved 2015-06-21.