The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2025 once again proved why it is one of the toughest desert rallies in the world. From February 21 to 27, the world’s best rally-raid competitors battled through the endless dunes of the United Arab Emirates, fighting for crucial points in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Intense duels, outstanding individual performances, and unexpected twists made this event a thrilling spectacle.
Bike Category: Sanders Conquers the Desert
In the bike category, Australian rider Daniel Sanders delivered a dominant performance, extending his lead in the W2RC standings. With two stage victories and consistent riding throughout the rally, he secured a comfortable margin, finishing nearly six minutes ahead of his closest competitor.
Spain’s Tosha Schareina impressed with four stage wins, but navigation errors and strategic setbacks cost him valuable time. As a result, he had to settle for third place. Meanwhile, Ricky Brabec capitalized on a strong final stage and smart race strategy to edge past Schareina and claim second place.
Car Category: Al-Attiyah Strikes Again
In the car category, Nasser Al-Attiyah secured another impressive victory. The Qatari driver piloted his Dacia Sandrider with remarkable consistency, leaving his rivals behind. Lucas Moraes and his co-driver Armand Monleón put up a fierce fight but ultimately had to concede defeat.
Sébastien Loeb, also driving for Dacia, endured a frustrating rally. A dramatic rollover in the penultimate stage ended his chances of victory. Despite his usual blistering pace, he was unable to recover and finish among the top contenders.
Drama Until the Final Stage
This year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge had everything a rally fan could hope for: extremely tough navigation, technical difficulties, and thrilling time battles. While Sanders took early control in the bike category, the fight between Al-Attiyah and Moraes in the car class remained tense until the final moments.
The rally concluded with a grand awards ceremony on Hudayriyat Island, where the winners were honored for their outstanding performances. With the second round of the 2025 W2RC season now in the books, anticipation is already building for the next challenges in the desert racing world.
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