The UAE Desert Challenge
The gruelling annual UAE Desert Challenge is a FIA World Cross
Country Rally for cars, bikes, quads and trucks. It attracts
entrants from the top works teams as well as some of the aspiring
local drivers and riders. It is held over a five day period in the
sands of the Empty Quarter close to Liwa.
This year’s event was won by Stéphane Peterhansel in a Pajero
and also saw Carlos Sainz win the world championship. The bike
section was won by Marc Coma from Spain on a KTM.
We were also very pleased to see four Land Rover Defenders
taking part, although these were a bit more powerful than our very
own.
We were part of the marshalling team helping out with the
running of the event. It was great fun and a bit scary wondering
whether or not the giant Kamaz trucks would be able to stop safely
for you to stamp their passage cards. We had enough spare time to
be able to place a cache on each of the five stages that we were
helping out on. If you are wondering why there is no Special Stage
5 it’s because we did not help out on that one!
Special Stage Six
We did not marshal on SS5. Instead we were at the restart for
Special Stage 6. When we arrived at 0830 in the morning there was
no one around. Three hours later and the area was swarming with
trucks, bikes, cars and various people associated with the event.
One hour after that it was deserted again, as if nothing had ever
happened.
The cache is under a pile of rocks in soft sand 30 metres from
the track. It is best to walk to this one and leave your car on the
track. It is located close to the Emirates Heritage Club just past
a sign saying “Pets not allowed beyond here”.