Media Information
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
21 March 2018
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018 – Round 3,
FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup
.
-
MINI to contest Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018
with six international crews. -
Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski in a MINI John Cooper Works Rally
aims to maintain his lead position in the FIA Cross Country Rally
World Cup. -
The MINI Family grows with three drivers competing at Abu
Dhabi for the first time with MINI racing machinery.
Munich. The
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018
is the
third round of the 2018 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and
the first long distance rally of the this season’s championship.
Race action starts on Saturday 24th March with a short
Super Special Stage to determine the starting order for Special
Stage 1 (SS1) – the first of five – on Sunday 25th March.
A total of 1,308 kilometres will be raced off-road during five
special stages held over five days. Stage 5 on Thursday
29th March will also be the last day of the event. Because
of the challenging distance and desert terrain involved, the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge attracts top flight competition. It is also the event
where MINI has taken the win four times in seven years.
Hoping to achieve another Abu Dhabi win for MINI is current leader of
the 2018 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski
(POL). He will, of course, be joined by his regular co-driver Tom
Colsoul (BEL). This duo will once again be at the controls of a MINI
John Cooper Works Rally, running under the banner of Orlen Team.
Also vying for glory in Abu Dhabi will be another longstanding MINI
Family crew. Yazeed Al Rajhi (KSA) and Timo Gottschalk (GER) are
looking forward to their first official MINI outing of 2018 since the
Dakar in January 2018. They too will be racing for the win in a MINI
John Cooper Works Rally.
Another first outing from the MINI camp since Dakar 2018 – and first
official race at a FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup event – is the
impressive MINI John Cooper Works Buggy. This rear-wheel drive racing
machine is there not just to capture top spot on the podium, but as
part of its ongoing development programme.
Taking the wheel of this latest MINI cross-country racing car is Luc
Alphand (FRA). A former downhill skier, he has already achieved
notable success in off-road competition with, arguably, his best
result being winner of the 2006 Dakar. Joining Alphand in the cockpit
of the MINI John Cooper Works Buggy is experienced co-driver Andreas
Schulz (GER).
Another driver taking charge of a MINI for the first time is Eugenio
Amos (ITA). This former GT Endurance Series challenger made his switch
to cross-country rally in 2015. In 2016 he completed his first Dakar
on a side-by-side buggy and has continued to hone his rally-raid
skills ever since. His first race under the wing of the MINI Family
will be with respected co-driver Filipe Palmeiro (POR) and in a MINI
ALL4 Racing.
Another newcomer to the MINI family – and his first ever long
distance cross-country rally – is Kris Rosenberger (AUT). Although the
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will be Rosenberger’s first outing in a
MINI ALL4 Racing, he is a proficient rally and circuit driver in his
home country of Austria, and has competed within WRC. Joining
Rosenberger at the controls will be rally experienced Nicola Bleicher (AUT).
Back once again to maintain his love for desert cross-country action
is the very experienced Stephan Schott (GER). At age 64, this Dakar
veteran is a master in all areas of competition, from driving to
co-driver and more; what is more he shows no sign in slowing down.
Sitting next to this veteran of rally sport will be Portuguese
co-driver Paulo Fiúza.
For more information about Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018, please
visit the host’s event home page here.
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018: MINI line up