DUBAI, 2 October 2004 — Saudi Arabia’s Shihab Alireza will share a world stage with the biggest names in cross country rallying during next month’s UAE Marlboro Desert Challenge, with French star Stephane Peterhansel, winner of the event for the last two years, now confirmed in a powerful lineup. Driving a Bombardier 650X, Alireza is among an impressive list of 113 drivers and riders from around the world heading for the penultimate round of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies from Oct. 11-15.
As expected, Mitsubishi Motor Sports have confirmed that Peterhansel and Japanese star Hiroshi Masuoka will drive identical Montero Evolution prototypes in the UAE. In addition to chasing a hat trick of victories, Peterhansel also has a chance of claiming the World Cup drivers’ title.
The Nissan Dessoude team, meanwhile, sees former world Group N rally champion Gregoire De Mevius of Belgium driving a Nissan Pick-up and French lady driver Isabelle Patissier at the wheel of a Nissan Pathfinder.
Frenchman Dominique Housieux, winner of last month’s World Cup event in Turkey, drives one of four Ralliart Mitsubishi Pajero V60s along with Serge Henninot also of France, Spain’s Jose Luis Monterde of Spain and Germany’s Ellen Lohr.
“We still have some big names to come, but we’ve already got a very powerful line-up and all the makings of a tremendously competitive event,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, chairman of the organizing committee.
The Rally will be held under the patronage of Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Gen. Sheikh Mohammed ibn Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of Dubai and minister of defense of the UAE.
The battle for supremacy will be as tough on two wheels as on four, with six of last year’s top ten finishers in the bikes category among those hoping be the rider who ends a run of three consecutive wins in the UAE by Frenchman Cyril Despres.
They include Poland’s Marek Dabrowski and Jacek Czachor, who finished third and fourth 12 months ago, as well as Norway’s Pal Anders Ullevalster, Italian Oscar Polli, Britain’s Sean Linton, and Zimbabwe’s Joe De Bruyn on a Honda, the only one of the six not riding a KTM.
The 2004 UAE Marlboro Desert Challenge is co-sponsored by Nissan, official vehicle supplier to the organizers, the government of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Emarat, ADNOC, Messina Shipping, Oasis Water, Inmarsat, providers of satellite communications, Konica copiers, website designers ANLONITS, as well as Dubai International Marine Club and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina, the co-hosts for the event and the official Rally HQ.
Spectators will have a ringside view of the mighty World Cup prototypes, modified 4WD vehicles, trucks and motorbikes during an all-action Prologue at the Jebel Ali Racecourse in Dubai at 4 p.m. on Oct. 10. From the official start at the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi the following morning, the events heads south for the first of four competitive stages, each of around 340ms, culminating in night halts at the bivouac. The next three days brings action in the Rub Al Khali or Empty Quarter, before the final leg on Oct. 15 takes the survivors north to the finish at Dubai International Marine Club.
