Sebastien Loeb is relishing one other titanic battle with Nasser Al Attiyah within the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem beginning on Sunday, as Bahrain Raid Xtreme look to guard their three-way lead within the World Rally-Raid Championship.
Loeb and Fabian Lurquin of their BRX Prodrive Hunter high the Drivers, Co-Drivers and Producers tables heading into the second spherical of the championship within the UAE, with Al Attiyah posing the primary risk to their triple title ambitions this yr.
After successful half of the Dakar Rally’s 14 phases in Saudi Arabia, and a file six in a row, they’re prepared for an additional massive take a look at within the 32nd version of the Desert Problem, which provides 2,170 kms of scorching, demanding and relentless phases.
“I’m very completely happy to return to Rally Raid after Dakar the place we noticed that we had some superb velocity, particularly within the dunes, so we’re main the championship,” mentioned nine-time World Rally Champion Loeb.
“After all, it might be nice to return out of Abu Dhabi nonetheless on the high of the factors, however I bear in mind final yr that it was not straightforward as Nasser was very fast. I hope that what we noticed on the Dakar signifies that we will battle with him once more.”
Mendacity third within the championship in a second Prodrive Hunter, 2009 Desert Problem winner Guerlain Chicherit and co-driver Alex Winocq purpose to breed their greatest kind from the Dakar the place they have been quickest on two phases.
“The six weeks between the Dakar Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem weren’t an excessive amount of for me,” confessed Chicherit. “My physique was very drained after the 15 days of rallying, so I’ve recovered and educated properly with a specialist to begin this second occasion of the season in the most effective situation.
“We all know that our Hunter performs properly, particularly within the dunes that make the ADDC so particular. It’s an occasion that I like very a lot as I received it a very long time in the past in 2009.”
With a new-look route sweeping throughout the Al Dhafra area, it will likely be acquainted territory for the 2 Prodrive Hunter crews as they once more sort out the large dunes of the Empty Quarter.
Whereas the Prodrive Hunter was unbeaten through the second week of the Dakar Rally throughout the identical daunting terrain, no stone has been left unturned within the preparation of the automobiles to maintain BRX forward within the title race.
Once more, the three.5 litre twin turbo engine Hunters shall be powered by Coryton’s sustainable gasoline, which produces 80% much less CO2 emissions.
With the rally heading out of Abu Dhabi for Sunday’s prologue in Al Dhannah, the Desert Problem is bound to be one other basic within the ever-growing world of Rally Raid. The winners record since 1991 studying like a ‘Who’s Who’ of the game, making success right here all of the extra important.
From Monday, the automobiles sort out 5 demanding phases primarily based across the Qasr Al Sarab bivouac within the coronary heart of the dunes, earlier than the end on Friday 3rd March again in Abu Dhabi.
