Dubai Baja to bring the best of Dubai to the Rally World Cup
The oldest motorsport event in the United Arab Emirates, the Dubai Baja is poised for an exciting return as the World Rally Cup comes to the UAE with a modern twist.
In its fifth year in its current format, Dubai Baja will be held from December 1-3 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.
The rally is organized by the Emirates Motor Sports Organization (EMSO), the governing body of more than 140 motorsports events held annually in the UAE, with the ongoing support of the Government of Dubai, and is open to all levels of competitors.
As part of the FIA Baja World Cup 2022 and FIM BAJAS World Cup 2022 calendars, Dubai International Baja is also the season finale for both prestigious championships.
With such intense competition at the top of both championships, the Dubai Baja is expected to be an exciting conclusion to the calendar as both World Cups will go all the way.
In addition, the Dubai Baja coincides with UAE National Day and will form part of the celebrations at Dubai Festival City.
Formerly called the Dubai International Rally, the event has been held annually since the late 1970s and has been organised by EMSO (formerly ATCUAE) since 1997. Much of the development of the rally has taken place under the leadership of Mohammed Ben Sulayem, former EMSO president and current FIA president, which demonstrates the influence and contribution of EMSO to the sport.
More suited to desert regions, the introduction of the shorter Baja format made the event accessible not only to cars, but also to buggies, bikes and quad bikes. This transformation has proved successful and the event has seen an influx of competitors from all over the region and the world.
Dubai Baja is the perfect opportunity for grassroots development with free entry to the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge not only for the winners but also for the FIA T4 rookies and top riders in the FIM Rally 2 class.
Yazid Al Raji, winner of the 2021 Dubai Baja, is currently leading the FIA Cross Country Baja World Cup and will look to finish the year on a high in Dubai, having started the season with a third place finish at the Dakar Rally.
In the FIM Bajas World Cup, UAE’s Mohammed Al Balushi tops the standings alongside Fabio Magallaes for fifth place in the championship in 2021. With points at Baja Dubai counting in double figures, this rally could determine the title winner in a thrilling final bout.
Fans can watch the official start ceremony from 7pm at Festival City in Dubai today, December 1, and before that the riders are warming up by going through a shakedown from 8am to 4pm.
Source: Dubai Media Office
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