The Opel Dakar Team is all geared up for the upcoming Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which will be held from 26th March till 2nd April 2015 at the Liwa Desert and Moreeb Area of the Empty Quarter.

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The racing team is represented by driver Balazs Szalay and co-driver Laszlo Bunkoczi.

An experienced driver who accomplished the marathon stages of the Dakar Challenge, Balazs Szalay is the only Hungarian driver who has conquered the Sahara eight times. In July 2012, he and Laszlo Bunkoczi finished on a brilliant 2nd place at the famous Silk Way rally in Russia.

The Opel Dakar Team will feature the rally car, Opel Mokka – the automaker’s first sub-compact SUV, which has been extensively modified for the upcoming rally.

With raised suspension, longer fuel tank and a carbon fibre-reinforced bodywork, the 380bhp 6.2-litre V8 Opel Mokka drives all four wheels via the X-trac sequential, six-speed gearbox (specially manufactured for Mokka).

The sprint from 0 – 100 km/h takes just 7.4 seconds, while its top speed is 180 km/h.

“The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is one of the sternest tests for any rally driver”, says Balazs Szalay.

“While I have participated in numerous desert rallies, I am looking forward to this one. The Opel Mokka has proven to be among the fastest cars on a tough desert terrain, which encourages us to attempt to break our records.

"The vehicle’s technology, quality and safety features firmly reinforces our confidence as we prepare for this desert rally.”

“Opel is known for its superior German technology, new innovations and specialized cars for the desert terrain.

The specifications of the Opel Mokka rally car for this year’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a testament to Opel’s commitment to combining top-class technology with high performance for competitive rallies,” said Gilbert Nassar, General Manager – Sales and Marketing of Liberty Automobiles, which is an authorized dealer for Opel in the UAE.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, one of the prestigious international cross country rallies, is the season-opening round for the FIM World Championship and round 3 of the FIA World Cup.