The stage is set for the 25th edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which gets under way with a super special spectator stage at the Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday afternoon.

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Starting at 15:00, Abu Dhabi’s Grand Prix Circuit for the first time hosts the traditional curtain-raiser for the event before the international line-up of cars, buggies, bikes and quads leave the UAE capital on Sunday morning for the first of five demanding desert stages in the Western region of Al Gharbia.

Yas Marina Circuit was a hive of activity on Friday as 54 cross country rally cars and buggies and 63 bikes and quads went through official scrutineering prior to the lineup for the super special stage being finalised.

Among the stars in action are reigning FIA World Cup and Desert Challenge cars champion Vladimir Vasilyev from Russia, last year’s bikes winner Paulo Goncalves of Portugal, this year’s Dakar Rally winner Nasser Al Attiyah of Qatar, and the reigning FIM world champion Marc Coma of Spain, who is seeking an eighth bikes title in the UAE, and Poland’s Rafal Sonik, who defends his quads crown.

The UAE’s Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, who is making his Desert Challenge debut in the event’s 25th year, completed his preparations for the weekend rally in a Toyota Hilux on Thursday. Sheikh Khalid later said he shared excellent chemistry with co-driver Jose Marques of Portugal and quickly got to grips with the new car and driving style.

The Abu Dhabi resident said: “The testing phase has been a great experience and I am now really looking forward to the race.

“My experience in the MERC and WRC is useful, it means that I know cars, I work with engineers so I know what I want in terms of set-up. But driving in the desert requires a whole set of different skills and techniques. The key is to find a good rhythm.

“I started out driving like I was in a rally car but quickly realised that you cannot maintain this over a long period otherwise it will totally exhaust you physically and mentally – you have to find a balance.

“The most important thing for this weekend, however ,is to be safe, so planning and preparation will be key to completing the race in a good position.”

Meanwhile, the Nissan Patrol, the ‘Hero of All terrain in Life’, is positioned for the 12th year as the official vehicle of the event, and has again played a vital part in allowing the route planning team to create spectacular competitive stages that follow in the desert of the Western Region of Al Gharbia.

The line-up of strategic partners includes the Ruler’s Court in the Western Region, Western Region Municipality, Abu Dhabi Municipality, the UAE Army, Abu Dhabi Police, National Ambulance Service, Nissan, Yas Marina Circuit, ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Aviation, Al Ain Mineral Water, Abu Dhabi Waste Management, Rotana and Centro Hotels – Yas Island, Qasr Al Sarab Resort, Explorer and DP World.

The Challenge is the second round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies for cars and the opening round of the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes.