Emirates desert championship heads for record-breaking start to new season

Sulayem sees national Baja rally series going from strength to strength withentries set to break 100 barrier, two more rounds added

Dubai, UAE, 22 September, 2014: The Emirates Desert Championship is heading for a record-breaking start to the 2014-15 season next month, with entries set to break the 100 barrier for the first time in the national Baja rally series which is extended from four to six rounds.

Launched last year, the first UAE rally championship to accommodate cars, buggies, bikes and quads returns to action with the opening event taking place in the Dubai desert on Friday 3 October.

Organised by the Emirates Motor Sport Federation, with TAG Heuer Middle East as the official timekeeper and founding partner, the series is run with the support of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and is expected to go from strength to strength.

“We were very happy with the response we received from drivers and riders overall last season and with the quality and quantity of entries,” said ATCUAE President Mohammed Ben Sulayem.

“The championship has created a great atmosphere among competitors, and we’reoptimistic that it can take another step forward this season. All the signs are that we will have more than 100 entries for the opening round.”

The Desert Championship follows the same basic format as last year, with each round consisting of a short course rally, the bikes and quads running on one loop, the cars and buggies on the other, all at the same time.
The format is guaranteed to provide exciting non-stop action, with the objective for all competitors to complete as many laps as possible within a time window of approximately two hours.

Once again 12 individual national rally titles are up for grabs, while auto and moto team competitionsare being introduced for the first time.

Full route details for the opening round will be announced shortly to all competitors,on the Emirates Desert Championship Facebook page, and at www.emsf.ae which also carries event regulations and entry forms. Scrutineeringtakes place at Dubai Autodrome on the evening of Wednesday 1October.

With the championship attracting growing interest among the UAE motor sport community, entries are likely to be boosted this season by overseas competitors attracted by some of the world’s finest terrain for cross country rallies.

The series provides a natural link into the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge,which marks its 25th anniversary from 27 March to 2 April next year, while a number of riders also plan to enter the series as part of their preparations for the Dakar Rally.

2014-15 Emirates Desert Championship calendar:

Rnd 1 - October 3
Rnd 2 - October 24
Rnd 3 - November 14
Rnd 4 - January 16
Rnd 5 - February 13
Rnd 6 - March 6