Prokop, Quintanilla Move Closer to Victory in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan

Education

Prokop, Quintanilla Move Closer to Victory in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Powered by Nissan

The prospect of two new champions being set up in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan moved a step more detailed after Czech driver Martin Prokop and Chilean biker Pablo Quintanilla arised unscathed from a challenging test today.

After winning the rally's demanding penultimate leg, Prokop and co-driver David Pabiska in a Ford F-150 Evo hold a general lead of 15 minutes 20secs from Poland's Jakub Przygonski with Belgian Tom Colsoul in a Mini John Cooper.

Dubai-based defending champ Sam Sunderland had begun the day holding a 7 minutes 34 secs bikes lead, yet after collapsing his KTM early the penultimate leg finished it 6 mins 17 secs adrift of new leader Quintanilla that won the phase on a Husqvarna to climb up from 4th overnight.

While Prokop virtually doubled his over night cars lead, Russia's two-times Desert Difficulty champions Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov climbed to third in a Mini Cooper Compatriot at the cost of the UAE's protecting champ, Khalid Al Qassimi.

Partnered by French co-driver Xavier Panseri in his Peugeot Abu Dhabi Competing Group 3008 DKR, Al Qassimi slipped to 4th place, just over 53 minutes off the lead, with a last of 218-kms taking the surviving competitors in the direction of the coating at Yas Marina Circuit tomorrow afternoon.

Five-times former bikes winner Cyril Despres of France with Swiss Steve Ravussin in a Buggy Ford and German Stephan Schott with Portugal's Paulo Fiuza in a Mini John Cooper completed the top 6.

There was bitter disappointment, nevertheless, for the UAE's Yahya Al Helei and Khalid Al Kendi that were sixth overnight in a Nissan Grab however retired with mechanical issues.

" We've had 4 days of classic cross nation rallying throughout a few of one of the most significant and tough desert terrain in the world," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Vehicle and Touring Club of the UAE and Emirates Motorsport Federation.

" With just the final stage left no-one can manage to kick back and risk making any kind of blunders. We've seen the lead transforming hands on the last day numerous times in the past."

In the bikes fight, in spite of managing just the 7th and 8th fastest times on the day simply ahead of Sunderland, Argentinian motorcyclist Kevin Benavides on a Honda and Austria's ruling Dakar Rally champ Matthias Walkner on a KTM hold 3rd and 4th areas overall.

Portugal's 2014 Desert Difficulty champion Paulo Goncalves and American Ricky Brabec, both riding Hondas, finish the leading six while veteran UAE-based Dave McBride, a previous runner-up in the event, preserved his top ten setting.

In the buggies group, Spain's Jose-Luis Pena Campo and Rafel Tornabell in a Polaris enter into the final leg holding a lead of 20 minutes 44 secs from UAE-based Michel Fadel and Craig Tyson,

Saudi Arabia's Ahmed Al Shegawi with French co-driver Laurent Lichtleuchter in a Toyota Landcruiser are within reach of the T2 production cars title, leading by more than 57 mins from Qatar's Adel Abdulla and Naser Al Kuwari in a Nissan Patrol. The last might see an intriguing battle to make a decision the quads title, with Dutch business owner and investor Kees Koolen on his Barren Racer leading by just over 4 mins from Russian Aleksandr Maksimov on a Yahama.

Prokop finished the stage to say: "It was an ok day, but tough. We made numerous errors going up the dunes, implying I needed to go around and attempt once again. The sensation in the car was bad. It took a long time to get the best rhythm. It was tough today."

Vasilyev, who scored back-to-back Desert Challenge triumphes in 2014 and 2015, said: "That was a good stage, however we had a sluggish leak for the last 30km makinged the car really lively."

It had not been a comfortable leg either for Quintanilla who completed the stage to say: "I had a truly challenging day. But I enjoy to complete the stage and take place to race tomorrow."

Sunderland, who made a fantastic rise on the last leg in 2015 to secure his initial Desert Difficulty crown, should currently do the exact same once more to maintain his title. He said at the finish: "A poor, negative day with a big collision at an early stage my camelbak (canteen) split so I had no fluid."

Happening under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler's Representative in Al Dafrah Region, the Abu Dhabi Desert Difficulty is forms the 3rd round of the 2018 FIA World Cup for Cross Nation Rallies for autos and buggies and the opening round of this year's FIM Cross Country Rallies World Champion 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 leading positions after ADNOC Stage 4

Cars

1. Martin Prokop / David Pabiska (CZE / CZE) / Ford F-150 Evo 14:31:07.9

2. Jakub Przygonski / Tom Colsoul (POL / BEL) / Mini John Cooper 14:46:28.1

3. Vladimir Vasilyev / K.Zhiltsov (RUS / RUS) / Mini Cooper Countryman 15:20:07.5

4. Khalid Al Qassimi / Xavier Panseri (ARE /FRA) / Peugeot 3008 DKR 15:24:28.1

5. Cyril Despres / Steve Ravussin (FRA / CHE) Buggy Ford 2WD 16:09:18.5

6. Stephan Schott / Paulo Fiuza (DEU / POR) / Mini John Cooper 17:28:14.7

7. Khaled AlFeraihi / Osama Alsanad (SAU / SAU) / Nissan Patrol Pick Up 17:51:39.5

8. Jose-Luis Pena Campo / Rafel Tornabell (ESP / ESP) / Polaris RZR 1000 18:52:17.4

9. 325 Michel Fadel / Craig Tyson (ARE / ARE) / Polaris RZR 1000 19:13:01.4

10. Christopher Rosenberger / Nicola Bleicher (AUT / DEU) / Mini All4 Racing 19:20:10.2