The launch of the Abu Dhabi Baja next weekend provides a fresh boost for desert rallying in the UAE, creating a flagship event for the new national series attracting drivers and riders from across the Middle East.
The event forms the fifth round of the 2019 UAE Baja Championship, organized by the Emirates Motorsport Club (EMC) and now halfway through its debut season, and is supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council.
The race will take place in the Liwa desert on 15 and16 November over a route cutting into the dramatic dunes of the Rub Al Khali. The Abu Dhabi Baja joins a championship that has emerged from a series run on a trial basis last year by the EMC. The championship has consistently attracted upwards of 50 cars, buggy, bike and quad competitors over this year's first four rounds. The offer of prize money in all categories in Abu Dhabi is expected to help build a much bigger entry list from across the region.
"We're very pleased and encouraged by the response to the championship so far in its first season," said Sheikh Abdullah Al-Qassimi, Founder and President of the EMC. "We want the Abu Dhabi Baja to take it to another level, securing the future of rallying which is where UAE motorsport originated. We're grateful to the Abu Dhabi Sports Council for their support and look forward to welcoming competitors from the Gulf countries and beyond."
Based on a desert bivouac at Moreeb Hill, the Abu Dhabi Baja will consist of two special stages adding up to 250km in a route totaling 280km in length. Documentation and Scrutineering take place on Friday 15 November between 7-10 am. The first special stage gets underway at 11 am, with stage two starting at Sam the following day and the event concluding with prize giving at 4 pm.
The arrival of the Abu Dhabi Baja adds to the championship's status as a series uniting the Emirates, with the first four rounds already hosted by Sharjah, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Dubai, and another to follow in Fujairah on 12 December
Source UAE Baja Championship
