By RaceScene Publisher on Monday, 04 March 2024
Category: The Checkered Flag

2024 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: From The Checkered Flag’s Newsroom

After a month off, the World Rally-Raid Championship roared back to life this past week with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Missed The Checkered Flag‘s daily coverage? We’ve got you covered with a nifty archive of our stories below.

Pre-race stories

7 March 2023: TCF‘s 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge newsroom 9 October 2023: Road to Dakar returns for 2024 29 November 2023: 2024 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge to feature “revamped format” 6 December 2023: CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team to run nearly full 2024 W2RC 22 December 2023: Kamil Wiśniewski to miss 2024 Dakar Rally, plans return for W2RC 27 December 2023: CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team skipping Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge amidst Red Sea shipping crisis 26 January: TCF‘s 2024 Dakar Rally newsroom 29 February: Michael Docherty on track to recover for Abu Dhabi 5 February: Gustavo Gugelmin stepping away from racing 8 February: Michaël Metge joins Yasir Seaidan for rest of 2024 W2RC 11 February: Aliyyah Koloc doing triple duty in W2RC, Middle East Baja, 24H Series 13 February: Nasser Al-Attiyah and Mathieu Baumel split 13 February: 1,902 km in total from Al Dhannah to Abu Dhabi 14 February: Audi drops out of W2RC, ending rally raid programme early 16 February: 101 on entry list 20 February: Benavides, Van Beveren enter Enduro del Verano over Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 26 February: Laia Sanz a last-second challenger in Challenger

Mid-race stories

27 February: Audi fined for no-show 28 February: João Ferreira, already retired, disqualified as well 1 March: Juan Cruz Yacopini disqualified for Stage 3 crew assistance

Stage winners

StageDateOverall Cars WinnerOverall Bikes WinnerRecap
Prologue26 FebruaryNasser Al-AttiyahRoss BranchRecap
Stage #127 FebruaryNasser Al-AttiyahMichael DochertyRecap
Stage #228 FebruaryGuerlain ChicheritAaron MarèRecap
Stage #329 FebruarySeth QuinteroRoss BranchRecap
Stage #41 MarchNasser Al-AttiyahAaron MarèRecap
Stage #52 MarchNasser Al-AttiyahRoss BranchRecap

Overall winners

ClassNumberCompetitorTeamTimeRecap
Ultimate206Nasser Al-AttiyahNasser Racing16:20:09Recap
Challenger304Austin JonesCan-Am Factory Team17:10:50Recap
SSV411Mansour Al-Helei*R-X Sport17:42:37Recap
RallyGP44Aaron MarèHero MotoSports16:36:13Recap
Rally226Konrad DąbrowskiDUUST Rally Team16:41:09Recap
Malle Moto40Hamdan Al-Ali*Hamdan Al-Ali21:47:30Recap
Junior Trophy26Konrad DąbrowskiDUUST Rally Team16:41:09Recap
Veteran Trophy92David Mabbs*Vendetta Racing UAE21:10:24Recap
Quad174Abdulaziz AhliAbu Dhabi Team20:14:22Recap
* – Not competing in World Rally-Raid Championship
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