Dubai International Baja

The Dubai International Baja (formerly known as the Dubai International Rally) is an international baja rally event based in Dubai held around the facilities of the Dubai Innovation Centre.

History edit

The rally, a gravel and sand event, dates back to 1984 and it used to be the final event of the Middle East Rally Championship each year. The rally changed its name to the Emirates Rally in 1989 but changed back the following year.

In 2016 the rally was reformatted into a cross-country rally and hosted a candidate event for the FIM and FIA cross-country world cup events. In 2017, the rally became an official event, hosting competition in both the car and bike categories.

The rally has been dominated in the car category by Emirati driver Mohammed bin Sulayem who has claimed 15 victories including twelve consecutive wins from 1991 to 2002. Eleven wins have been taken by Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, including a run of eight straight from 2007 to 2014.

Winners edit

Auto edit

List of winners sourced in part from:[1][2]

Year Driver Codriver Car
1982   Chris Walles   Steve McCormack Datsun Silvia
1983   Chris Walles   Steve McCormack Datsun Silvia
1984   Saeed Al-Hajri   John Spiller Porsche 911 SC
1985   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ali Hassan Toyota Celica TCT
1986   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Sölve Andreasson Toyota Celica TCT
1987   Reinhard Hainbach   Erhard Ricken Opel Manta 400
1988   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Toyota Celica TCT
1989   Björn Waldegård   Fred Gallagher Toyota Celica GT-Four
1990   Suhail Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum   Mubarak Al Hajri Mitsubishi Galant VR-4
1991   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Toyota Celica GT-Four
1992   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Toyota Celica GT-Four
1993   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1994   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1995   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1996   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1997   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Escort RS Cosworth
1998   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Escort WRC
1999   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Focus WRC
2000   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Ronan Morgan Ford Focus WRC
2001   Mohammed bin Sulayem   Khaled Zakaria Ford Focus WRC
2002   Mohammed bin Sulayem   John Spiller Ford Focus WRC
2003   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Steve Lancaster Subaru Impreza WRC
2004   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Chris Patterson Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2005   Khalid Al-Qassimi   Nick Beech Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2006   Khalid Al-Qassimi   Khalid Alkendi Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2007   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Chris Patterson Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2008   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Chris Patterson Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2009   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Giovanni Bernacchini Subaru Impreza WRX STi
2010   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Giovanni Bernacchini Ford Fiesta S2000
2011   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Giovanni Bernacchini Ford Fiesta S2000
2012   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Giovanni Bernacchini Ford Fiesta S2000
2013   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Giovanni Bernacchini Ford Fiesta S2000
2014   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Giovanni Bernacchini Ford Fiesta RRC
2015   Khalid Al-Qassimi   Chris Patterson Citroen DS3 RRC
2016   Ahmed Al Maqoodi None Polaris RZR 1000 (T3)
2017   Nasser Al-Attiyah   Mathieu Baumel Toyota Hilux
2018   Kuba Przygonski   Tom Colsoul Mini John Cooper Works Buggy
2019   Kuba Przygonski   Timo Gottschalk Mini John Cooper Works Buggy
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021   Yazeed Al Rajhi   Michael Orr Toyota Hilux Overdrive

Bikes & Quads edit

Year Bike Quad
Rider Vehicle Rider Vehicle
2016   David McBride KTM 450 RR   Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi Yamaha YFZ 450
2017   Mark Ackerman Husvqarna 450 FX   Fahad Al Musallam Yamaha 700 Raptor
2018   Mohammed Al Balooshi KTM 450   Fahad Al Musallam Yamaha 700 Raptor
2019   Aaron Mare Husvqarna 450 FC   Khalifa Al Raisee Honda 700 TRX2
2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021   Sam Smith  KTM 450SX-F   Haitham Altuwayjiri Yamaha YZF450R

External links edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Motorsport Winners".
  2. ^ http://www.ewrc-results.com/events.php?id=340