Education

Czech driver Martin Prokop and Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla completed their paths to triumph in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan today, preventing any late dramas as the event reached its final thought after 5 days of amazing action.

Prokop and co-driver David Pabiska, who started the last leg holding a 15 mins 20secs cars and trucks lead, were 4th fastest on the 218-km Abu Dhabi Aeronautics Stage and won by 13 minutes 30.2 secs generally from Poland's Jakub Przygonski with Belgian Tom Colsoul in a Mini John Cooper.

Russia's two-times Desert Difficulty winners Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov completed third, another 32 mins 59 secs behind in a Mini Cooper Compatriot.

Final stage winner Cyril Despres took 4th place together with Swiss Steve Ravussin in a Buggy Ford 2WD, while German Stephan Schott and Portuguese co-driver Paulo Fiuza in a Mini John Cooper and Saudi Arabia's Khaled AlFeraihi and Osama Alsanad in Nissan Patrol Get finished the leading 6.

Another Saudi driver, Ahmed Al Shegawi, was among those commemorating at the coating, after taking his Nissan Patrol to success in the T2 production cars category with French co-driver Laurent Lichtleuchter. They were signed up with on the coating ramp by Prince Khaled Al Faisal, President of the Electric Motor Federation of Saudi Arabia.

The UAE's safeguarding champion, Khalid Al Qassimi, 4th overnight, cannot get to the surface, retiring with French co-driver Xavier Panseri 21-km into the stage when his Peugeot Abu Dhabi Competing Group 3008 DKR established mechanical problems.

There were no problems for Husqvarna rider Quintanilla, who like Prokop recorded his initial Desert Difficulty title, ending up 5th fastest on the day however winning general by five mins 11 secs from defending champion, Dubai-based Sam Sunderland on a KTM.

Argentinian Kevin Benavides completed third on a Honda an additional 3 mins 23 secs away. Dakar Rally champion Matthias Walkner from Austria won the Abu Dhabi Air travel Phase to take fourth place overall on a KTM while Honda bikers Paulo Goncalves of Portugal, the 2014 winner, and American Ricky Brabec completed the leading six.

Spain's Jose-Luis Pena Campo and Rafel Tornabell in a Polaris captured the buggies title while Dutchman Kees Koolen on his Barren Racer was crowned quads champion.

" We've included an additional chapter to the Desert Challenge success story, and after 28 years the rally is still going from toughness to toughness," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Car and Touring Club of the UAE and Emirates Motorsport Federation, at the main finish at Yas Marina Circuit. "It excels to welcome new champions. They'll appreciate having this success on their CVs."

Jubilant at the surface, Prokop said: "I'm extremely pleased of course to finish and it's fantastic to win, especially without making numerous errors over the five phases. My most significant concern developing to desert rallies was a lack of experience driving in the sand. I have actually been training hard over the previous 3 years in Abu Dhabi and it's good to see it settle"

Przygonski said: "I'm really happy and it's a great rally. It was a good fight between us (Prokop) and we had an opportunity to catch them over the phases. However a few mistakes on our part indicated we couldn't make the moment back. Martin has actually been truly gr1eat over the past couple of days so congratulations to him."

Stage champion Despres, that saw triumph in case 5 times as a rider, said: "Today was fun. Flat sections fit this car - great fast tracks. I'm really feeling alright and happy to be back in the Desert Challenge and trying something various. I learned a whole lot about driving four wheels across the desert - extremely various to riding a motorbike across the dunes."

The bikes had begun the final stage with a stunning motocross-style mass begin, and a beaming Quintanilla completed it to claim: "I'm really happy to win the race. I had a fantastic battle with the people. It's a big win for me, wonderful. A big thank you to all my team and for all the assistance I obtained."

Stage victor Benavides said: "The last day was a motocross begin and it was truly great, however it's difficult in a group as there were no leaders, so it was a bit challenging in the dunes. We needed to push a lot in the last 50kms though and some entered front. I truly had to fight (Walkner) to keep my overall position."

Taking place under the patronage of of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dafrah Region, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is forms the third round of the 2018 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and buggies and the opening round of this years FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes and quads.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan is supported by Al Dafrah Region
Municipality, Abu Dhabi Municipality, the UAE Army, Abu Dhabi Police, Nissan Middle East, ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Al-Ain Water, National Ambulance Service, Tadweer, Yas Marina Circuit and the Qasr Al-Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara.

Provisional results
Autos
1. Martin Prokop/ David Pabiska (CZE/ CZE)/ Ford F-150 Evo 17:06:57.9
2. Jakub Przygonski/ Tom Colsoul (POL/ BEL)/ Mini John Cooper 17:20:28.1
3. Vladimir Vasilyev/ K.Zhiltsov (RUS/ RUS)/ Mini Cooper Fellow Citizen 17:53:27.5
4. Cyril Despres/ Steve Ravussin (FRA/ CHE) Buggy Ford 2WD 18:38:36.5
5. Stephan Schott/ Paulo Fiuza (DEU/ POR)/ Mini John Cooper 20:24:16.7
6. Khaled AlFeraihi/ Osama Alsanad (SAU/ SAU)/ Nissan Patrol Grab 21:02:46.5
7. Jose-Luis Pena Campo/ Rafel Tornabell (ESP/ ESP)/ Polaris RZR 1000 22:11:03.4
8. Christopher Rosenberger/ Nicola Bleicher (AUT/ DEU)/ Mini All4 Competing 22:22:46.2
9. Vincent Gonzalez/ Stephane Duple (CHE/ FRA)/ Polaris RZR 1000 23:09:47.2
10. Patrice Garrouste/ Loic Minaudier (FRA/ FRA)/ Polaris RZR 1000 23:12:21.5

4

Bikes
1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL)/ Husqvarna 450 16:51:11
2. Sam Sunderland (ARE)/ KTM 450 16:56:22
3. Kevin Benavides (ARG)/ Honda CRF 450 16:59:45.
4. Matthias Walkner (AUT)/ KTM 450 17:00:47
5. Paulo Goncalves (POR)/ Honda CRF 450 17:09:46
6. Ricky Brabec (U.S.A)/ Honda CRF 450 17:11:57
7. Toby Price (AUS)/ KTM 450 17:20:56
8. Jose Ignacio Cornejo F (CHL)/ Honda CRF 450 17:21:16
9. Michael Metge (FRA)/ Honda CRF 450 17:29:30.
10. Benjamin Melot (ZAF)/ KTM 450 Rally 19:06:48

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