The third stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge was a tough test for the competitors. Covering a total distance of 388 kilometers, with 237 kilometers against the clock, the racers headed towards the Marathon Camp, where they had to spend the night without any support from their service teams. Nasser Al Attiyah (Dacia) and Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda HRC) dominated their respective classes, taking the lead in the overall standings. Kees Koolen and Puck Klaassen also made a strong impression.
FIA: Al Attiyah Takes the Lead
Nasser Al Attiyah once again demonstrated why he is the reigning champion. The Qatari convincingly won the stage, securing the overall lead with a 49-second advantage over Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing). Yesterday’s leader, Sébastien Loeb, lost time due to navigation errors and a two-minute penalty for speeding. As a result, he dropped to third place, 2 minutes and 46 seconds behind. Seth Quintero and João Ferreira completed the top five.
Challenger: Setback for Klaassen, Akeel wins
Puck Klaassen had a good day during a shortened stage, but with a 20-hour time penalty for an engine change, she finished last in the stage and dropped to last place in the Challenger standings. This ended her classification chances, but she can still compete for day victories in the remaining stages.
The stage was won by Dania Akeel, with Pau Navarro second and Marcos Baumgart third. The battle in the Challenger class remains exciting with Akeel now firmly in the title race. Strong winds today created chaotic conditions in the Challenger classes. Race Control decided to end the stage early to ensure the safety of the competitors.
FIM: Schareina back on top, Koolen impresses
Tosha Schareina regained the lead in the overall standings after an outstanding performance. He defeated Luciano Benavides by 2 minutes and 21 seconds, while Ricky Brabec finished third. Daniel Sanders, yesterday’s leader, lost time and dropped to second place overall, 1 minute and 25 seconds behind Schareina. The battle for victory remains intense, with four riders separated by less than three minutes.
Kees Koolen once again proved to be a consistent force in the veterans’ category. He finished 18th overall and significantly extended his lead in the veterans’ classification. “I was 17 minutes faster than the second veteran today, but that doesn’t mean much here. In the dunes, you can lose a lot of time in an instant,” said Koolen. “The last 50 kilometers consisted of massive dunes where you sometimes had to attempt multiple climbs to reach the top. Unfortunately, I got stuck four times, which cost me a lot of time. At one point, I even went over my handlebars after jumping off a dune, and the bike landed on me. Luckily, no serious damage, except that I realized at the finish that my front fender was missing.”
Rally2: Docherty remains unbeaten
Michael Docherty continues to dominate Rally2, securing his fourth consecutive stage win. He extended his overall lead to 20 minutes and 18 seconds over Konrad Dąbrowski.
Quads: A new leader in yet another shakeup
The quad category remains highly unpredictable. After four stages, there is already a fourth different leader. Today, Marek Łój took over the lead, holding a 9-minute and 19-second advantage over Antanas Kanopkinas. Abdulaziz Ahli won the stage but lost significant time in the previous special due to electrical issues, seemingly ending his title hopes.
Looking ahead to stage 4
Tomorrow, the competitors return to Mezaira’a after the longest stage of this edition: 394 kilometers, including 300 kilometers against the clock. The first bike will depart at 08:00 (GMT+4), followed by the first car at 09:50. The battle for overall victory is heating up!
