The desert dunes of Dubai are set to resound with the rumble of engines once more as the oldest motorsport event in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the iconic Dubai International Baja, makes a thrilling return next month for the best-of-the-best of World Cup Rallying.
This year marks the seventh edition running under its current format, and it promises to be the biggest and most exciting yet.
Scheduled for November 10-12, the Dubai International Baja takes place under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai.
The high-octane event is organized by the Emirates Motorsport Organisation (EMSO), the governing body for over 150 motorsport events held annually in the UAE, along with the continued support of the Dubai Government and strategic partners Dubai Festival City, Toyota Al Futtaim, and ENOC.
Following the cancellation of Jordan Baja announced yesterday by the Organizers and the Federation International de Motocyclism (FIM) due to the unstable geopolitical situation, the Dubai International Baja will once again be the last round of the season and will surely see electrifying duels across most categories in both World Cups.
Originally programmed to be the season’s penultimate event, the event features on the calendar for both the 2023 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the 2022 FIM Bajas World Cup.
With several categories very tight in the points and one event less in the calendar, the Expectation is high, and the competition in Dubai promises to be a thrilling race for glory as both World Cups go down to the wire.
Khalid Ben Sulayem, EMSO President, said: “We are thankful for the unwavering support from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Today, the rally stands tall as a testament to Dubai’s commitment to the world of sport. His Highness’s patronage ensures a top-tier event that brings world-class rallying to Dubai and showcases the best of Dubai to the Bajas World Series.”
“We’ve been working closely with the government authorities, and both the FIA and the FIM, to not only stage an epic show but also ensure the highest organizational and safety standards for everyone involved.”
“Dubai Festival City offers a fabulous backdrop for the rally, and with some innovations we are introducing together this year to the Dubai Baja, we expect an exhilarating rally.”
The event organizer has been working hand in hand with strategic partners Al Futtaim Toyota and Dubai Festival City, and some very exciting new introductions to the event aiming to give a spectacle like has never been seen in the city’s heart before will be announced in the upcoming days.
Today’s event traces its roots back to the late 1970s when the event formerly known as Dubai International Rally – originally tailored only for cars - started to be staged annually. Since 1997, EMSO (formerly ATCUAE) has been behind the delivery of the oldest motorsport event in the country, and it was Mohammed Ben Sulayem himself, former President of the EMSO and current FIA President, who led the way to the event’s development. More suited to the UAE’s natural desertic terrain, the introduction of a Cross-Country Baja format made the event accessible not just to cars but also to buggies, bikes, and quads. This transformation has proved a success with a influx of entrants from across the region and internationally.
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Nissan Formula E Team is excited to announce a four-year global partnership with Petromin Corporation, a leading mobility solutions provider in the Middle East. The partnership will be primarily focused on the company’s EV charging subsidiary, Electromin, as the business looks ahead to a wider adoption of electric mobility in the region.
The Mercedes-AMG ONE has been the fastest production car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife since October 2022 and has been unrivalled ever since. The only rival is the ONE itself. Now Mercedes AMG brand ambassador and DTM driver Maro Engel has once again significantly improved the lap time he set. With an officially measured and notarised time of 6:29.090 minutes for the 20.832-kilometre track, the hypercar with Formula 1™ technology beat its own record for production vehicles by over five seconds. This makes the Mercedes AMG ONE the first road car to beat the magic mark of 6:30 minutes. It is also the only series hybrid hypercar to date to have taken on the world's most demanding racetrack and is the undisputed leader in the super-sports-car class. In order to achieve the lofty goals they had set for themselves, meticulous preparation was necessary. In addition, the track conditions had to be ideal in order to beat the 6:30 minute target. On September 23, 2024, at 6:56 p.m., on his third timed lap, Maro Engel achieved the new record. With temperatures of 15 degrees Celsius (air) and 20 degrees Celsius (asphalt), the legendary Nordschleife was dry throughout and offered perfect grip.
Like Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on their Formula 1™ race weekends, Maro Engel also had to make the best possible use of the hybrid drive's electrical energy. This is particularly challenging, especially with a track length of more than 20 kilometres. Therefore, it is immensely important to use the right sections of the track to recuperate during braking phases and thus store energy in the batteries again.
To do this, Maro Engel utilised the AMG ONE's four-stage Energy Flow Control (EFC) system and in some cases deliberately took his foot off the accelerator a little earlier than he normally would. In technical jargon, this is known as “lift and coast”. Preliminary tests in the driving simulator in Affalterbach and on the Nordschleife itself provided the necessary insights, which the team and driver were able to optimally implement for the record lap. In accordance with the specifications of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co KG, the vehicle was tested and documented by TÜV Rheinland to ensure that it was in standard condition. A notary confirmed that the record drive had been carried out correctly.
The new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 heads into this weekend’s IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA) finale – the Petit Le Mans 10-hour race at Road Atlanta – deep in the hunt for its first major title.
The new Aston Martin Vantage GT3 has enjoyed a stellar debut season of international competition. The car recorded a historic victory in the centenary edition of the Crowdstrike 24 Hours of Spa in June, a first for the British ultraluxury sportscar brand in the modern GT era. It also achieved Aston Martin’s first ever Autobacs Super GT class victory in Japan in the same month. As well as this, Vantage has clinched class wins in the FIA World Endurance Championship, IMSA, the Nürburgring Langstrecken Series and ADAC GT Masters through the summer.
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