2017 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge –
Round 3, FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup
.
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Three international crews from the MINI Family line up for
the first long distance desert race of the season. -
Mohamed Abu Issa and co-driver Xavier Panseri on course to
further their excellent start to the 2017 FIA Cross Country Rally
World Cup. -
Stephan Schott
and Andreas Schulz form an all-German crew. -
Russian duo Vladimir Valisyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov look
to make it their third Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge title with MINI.
Munich. Three MINI crews are primed for spectacular race
action at this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – a race that MINI
has won on four previous occasions (2011, 2013-2015).
The 2017 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Racing action starts with
a Super Special Stage on Saturday 1st April.
Following a competitors’ briefing at the impressive Yas Marina
Circuit, the crews will make their way to the Al Forsan International
Sports Resort to compete in Leg 1 (Super Special Stage) in full view
of the crowds. This race will also ascertain the competitors’ starting
positions for Leg 2 the following day. The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
ends with Leg 6 on Thursday 6th April.
Mohamed Abu Issa (QAT) and co-driver Xavier Panseri (FRA) are on form
following a successful third place outing at the 2017 Dubai
International Baja (9-11 March). This latest dynamic duo from the MINI
Family is growing in competitive strength from race to race and, as we
all know, experience is a provider of good fortune. With the Desert
Challenge being only their third outing together, another quality
result from Abu Issa and Panseri is surely on the cards.
An all-German crew makes up the second MINI entry to the
27th running of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Fresh from
his impressive 15th place finish at the 2017 Dakar Rally,
Stephan Scott takes to the desert with co-driver and compatriot
Andreas Schulz – who also competed at this year’s Dakar and finished a
glorious sixth with Orlando Terranova (ARG) in the driving seat. When
talking about experience gained in the seats of a rally car, then
these two gentlemen can be considered veterans of desert racing.
From Russia with a deep love for cross-country rally are Vladimir
Vasilyev and his faithful friend and co-driver Konstantin Zhiltsov.
They will be very keen to make up for the disappointment of not making
the start of Round 2 (Dubai International Baja) due to personal
reasons. The Russian pairing is very much likely to come off the line
with determination in order to claim their third Abu Dhabi Desert
Challenge title after taking the top step of the podium in 2014 and 2015.
2017 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: MINI ALL4 Racing line up