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Khalid Al Qassimi and Sam Sunderland both face a strict assessment when they attempt to protect their titles in following week's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan.

Partnered by French co-driver Xavier Panseri in a Peugeot Abu Dhabi Racing Group 3008 DKR, Emirati Al Qassimi heads a powerful 40-car align on the main access listing released today by the Vehicle and Touring Club of the UAE, the rally organisers.

Dubai-based KTM star Sunderland, meanwhile, remains in a top quality assembly of 33 bikers as he prepares to protect his bikes crown in the 28th version of the Desert Challenge which gets under method with a very unique viewer stage at Yas Marina Circuit next Saturday (24 March).

An overall of 112 rivals from 28 countries will oppose the occasion, which is the third round of this year's FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for autos and buggies and the opening round of the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes and quads.

" The high quality of entries is high and competitors will be strong," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the ATCUAE and FIA Vice President for sport. "We expect adding one more chapter to the Desert Challenge success tale."

Taking place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Rep in Al Dafrah Region, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan is supported by Al Dafrah Region Town, Abu Dhabi Municipality, the UAE Army, Abu Dhabi Cops, Nissan Middle East, ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Aeronautics, Al-Ain Water, National Rescue Service, Tadweer, Yas Marina Circuit and the Qasr Al-Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara.

The Nissan Patrol is the official car for the rally, and Oman's Abdullah Al Zubair takes one of the Patrols went into in pursuit of the T2 production course title. The supplier is additionally stood for by the UAE's Yahya Al Helei in a Nissan PICK-UP, a quartet of Nissan Navaras driven by UAE-based Tom Bell and Shameer Variawa, Romanian Laurentiu-Claudiu Barbu and South African Terence Marsh, and a Nissan Patrol Pick Up gone into by Saudi Khaled Alferajhi.

Amongst the biggest risks to Al Qassimi's hopes of a second succeeding straight-out Desert Challenge success is Polish vehicle driver Jakub Przygonski, fresh from his win in the current Dubai International Baja together with Belgian co-driver Tom Colsoul in a Mini John Cooper.

Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al-Rajhi rerturns to action in the deserts of the Al Dafrah Region with German co-driver Timo Gottschalk in another Mini.

Intending to go one much better in Abu Dhabi will be in 2015's joggers up, Czechs Martin Prokop and Jan Tomanek, in the Ford F-150 Evo which took them to fourth place in the Dubai Baja.

Russian Vladimir Vasilyev, runner up in the Dubai Baja and Desert Challenge winner in 2014 and 2015 with Konstantin Zhiltsov, will certainly try to come to be just the third motorist in the rally's history to win the event three times adhering to Jean-Louis Schlesser (6) and Stephane Peterhansel (5 ).

Making a welcome return to Abu Dhabi is Frenchman Cyril Despres, who recorded the bikes title 5 times in between 2001-2008 before switching to cars and trucks. He goes into activity with Swiss co-driver and established sailor Steve Ravussin in a Ford TRX08LMOD 2WD buggy.

Aiming to repeat his bikes success of last year, Sunderland faces one more major examination, specifically from both riders that completed the top three in 2017, Chilean Pablo Quintanilla on a Husqvarna and KTM manufacturing facility team-mate, Austria's ruling Dakar Rally champ, Matthias Walkner.

However an effective five-strong Honda team likewise have high hopes of an additional Desert Challenge success, with 2014 champion Paulo Goncalves joined by American Ricky Brabec, Argentina's Kevin Benavides, Chilean Jose Ignacio Cornejo and Frenchman Michael Metge.

After his innovation World Cup rally success in the Dubai International Baja, leading Emirati motorcyclist Mohammed Al Balooshi is cherishing one more opportunity to test himself against the world's best.

Inscriptions

1. ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem: Competition will be fierce.

2. The UAEs Khalid Qassimi chases his second successive Desert Challenge title.

3. Dubai-based KTM star Sam Sunderland defends his bikes crown.

4. The UAEs Yahya Al Helei is back in action in a Nissan Pick Up.

5. The Nissan Patrol is the official car while a quartet of Nissan Navaras like this will be in action.

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