Mansour Al-Helei wins SSV World Baja Cup title on home soil in Dubai
Mansour Al-Helei fulfilled a childhood ambition in Dubai on November 8, securing the FIA World Baja Cup SSV title after a tense final stage threatened by an overheating engine.
Competing alongside fellow Emirati navigator Khalid Al Kendi in a Can-Am Maverick R, Al-Helei finished fifth overall at the Dubai International Baja. The result delivered enough points to turn third place in the championship standings into a season-ending title.
It was a major achievement for the UAE pairing, earned in the dunes of Al Qudra as several championship battles remained unresolved until the final day.
A title secured by reaching the finish
Al-Helei’s final stage became an exercise in preserving his car. With engine temperatures running high across almost the entire timed section, he reduced his pace and concentrated on bringing the vehicle home.
The approach paid off. After crossing the finish line, he spoke about having dreamed of becoming a world champion since childhood and his pride in achieving that ambition with an Emirati navigator.
He also credited Team Liwa, his sponsor, for believing in the campaign.
The SSV contest had brought three contenders to Dubai. Argentina’s Fernando Álvarez retired after a crash on Saturday, while Norway’s Hedda Hosås encountered brake problems during the opening desert stage.
Hosås recovered to record the fastest SSV time on the final stage, but finished 11th overall in the rally and second in the championship.
Al-Attiyah wins the rally as Van den Brink takes the overall crown
The event victory went to Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah and French navigator Max Delfino in their Optimus MD Rallye. They finished 5 minutes and 18.7 seconds ahead of Dutch pairing Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun.
Al-Attiyah’s success completed a clean sweep of four victories in the 2026 FIA Middle East Baja Cup. It was also his fourth Dubai victory since the event adopted its Baja format in 2016.
For Van den Brink, second place carried a different reward: the overall FIA World Baja Cup title, alongside the Challenger category crown.
Championship leader Francisco Barreto suffered engine trouble approximately 50 kilometres into the final stage, ending his challenge. Van den Brink completed the decisive section just two seconds behind Al-Attiyah to secure the points he needed.
More celebrations for Emirati competitors
The UAE also celebrated victory in the quad category, where Khalifa Al-Bastaki finished ahead of compatriot Ali Almarzouqi, with Saudi Arabia’s Hani Alnoumesi completing the podium.
Al-Bastaki’s win followed his success in Qatar the previous weekend. Four-time defending Dubai winner Abdulaziz Ahli retired with mechanical problems on Saturday.
In the motorcycle competition, Britain’s Alex McInnes won both the Dubai International Baja and the FIM World Baja Cup title. He finished ahead of fellow Briton Ethan Lane and Slovenia’s Toni Mulec.
From Mushrif Park to the desert
The weekend opened with a new setting for the event’s Prologue: Mushrif Park hosted the first competitive action on November 6, bringing cars, motorcycles and quads closer to Dubai’s residents and visitors.
The 4.80-kilometre opening test provided an accessible introduction before competitors moved into Al Qudra for the longer desert stages, where navigation and mechanical reliability shaped the results.
Dubai Festival City served as the event hub, hosting the ceremonial activities and welcoming competitors back after the final stage. For Al-Helei and Al Kendi, that return marked the end of a demanding championship campaign with an international title secured at home.
