The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which celebrates its 25th anniversary edition later this month, came out on top in official reports submitted to the FIA by observers appointed to assess each of the rallies in the 2014 World Cup series.
– #Quiz360: WIN Dh250 to spend at Legends Sports Bar
– Automobile & Touring Club partners with AD Motorsports
The announcement was hailed as another landmark achievement for UAE sport by Sheikh Nahayan bin Mubarak Al Nahayan, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development.
“The Desert Challenge carries a positive image of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as a whole to audiences around the world and is a great advertisement for our ability in the Emirates to stage international sporting events of the highest calibre,” said Sheikh Nahayan.
“It is gratifying that the event should now receive official recognition as the top cross country rally in the FIA World Cup, and I am confident it will continue to set the highest standards in the years ahead.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE), the rally organisers, said: “We are indebted to the government for the crucial support we have received from the start to build the Desert Challenge into a leading event in the World Cup series.
Descending a 120m sand dune – #AbuDhabi Desert Challenge 2014 http://t.co/ln65HgsqAL #ttot #adventure #travel #GetOutAndGo #explore
— Nashipaii (@Nashipaii) March 1, 2015
“I am particularly grateful to Sheikh Nahayan for his personal backing and encouragement, which is typical of the enthusiasm he has brought over the years to UAE sport.
“The credit for recognition we have received is also shared by my very hard working team at the ATCUAE, and the small army of dedicated volunteers who give up their time each year to make the event happen.”
The ratings are based on reports submitted by FIA observers who assess each event for overall standard of organisation, with an emphasis on safety, quality of special stages, training and management of volunteers, and efforts taken to protect the environment.
We are loading trucks in Genua for the ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE pic.twitter.com/nFebQ97DwW
— Impeco Sport & Event (@ImpecoSport) February 27, 2015
In the countdown to the 25th anniversary event from March 27-April 2, the ATCUAE has opened four new overseas liaison offices to boost Desert Challenge entries from the UK and Ireland, Holland and Belgium, Russia, Ukraine and the former CIS nations, and South Africa.
And efforts to take the event into new markets have been reinforced by the appointment of GAC as official shipping agents, creating links from ports in Marseilles, Felixstowe, Hamburg, Durban and Genoa.
