The second stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge took competitors through a grueling 243-kilometer loop around Mezaira’a. Sébastien Loeb (Dacia) and Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) emerged as the big winners of the day, claiming the lead in their respective categories. For Dutch participants Kees Koolen and Puck Klaassen, it was a day of both highs and setbacks.
FIA: Loeb takes his first win for Dacia
After a strong opening stage, Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) had to relinquish his lead to Sébastien Loeb today. The Frenchman secured his first stage win with Dacia, marking the brand’s fourth W2RC victory. With a 1’42” advantage over Moraes and 2’37” over Nasser Al Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders), Loeb also took over the overall classification lead. Al Attiyah received a one-minute penalty for a jumpstart, costing him valuable time.
Challenger: Seaidan strikes back, Klaassen faces a tough Day
After her victory in the first stage, Dania Akeel had to concede to Yasir Seaidan today. Seaidan won the stage with a 4’38” lead, taking the overall classification lead as well. Pau Navarro completed the podium at +11’27”.
For Puck Klaassen, it was a day to forget quickly. Due to technical issues, she had to be towed out of the stage with her G Rally Team OT3, incurring a hefty 15-hour penalty. As a result, she dropped to 11th place in the Challenger class.
SSV: Gaspari Capitalizes on Al Helei’s Misfortune
Mansour Al Helei, who had led after the first stage, encountered suspension problems and lost crucial time. This allowed Enrico Gaspari to take full advantage and claim victory with a 15’16” lead over Michele Cinotto. Al Helei finished third at +16’26”, losing his overall lead to Gaspari in the process.
FIM: Sanders takes control, Koolen shines among veterans
Daniel Sanders made the most of his favorable starting position, dominating the stage from start to finish. The Australian rider defeated Ignacio Cornejo (Hero MotoSports) and Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda HRC), also seizing the overall classification lead. Tosha Schareina, who had started the stage as leader, struggled and dropped to third place overall.
For Kees Koolen, it was a successful day. He finished 22nd in the FIM class and now leads the veterans (45+ category) after two days. “The first half of the day consisted of big dunes, but the second part was much tougher with soft, treacherous dunes. Everyone was exhausted at the finish, but I managed to maintain my pace for the most part,” said Koolen, who is also the oldest competitor in the field.
Rally2: Docherty remains unbeaten
Michael Docherty (SRG Motorsports) secured his third consecutive stage win and appears well on his way to his first W2RC victory. He finished 3’37” ahead of teammate Tobias Ebster and 5’15” ahead of Konrad Dąbrowski. With a 15’51” lead over Dąbrowski in the standings, Docherty holds a strong position heading into the next stages.
Quads: Kanopkinas takes the kead
The quad competition saw yet another leader change, as Antanas Kanopkinas (CFMoto Thunder Racing) took over the top spot after Gaëtan Martinez and Abdulaziz Ahli had led on previous days. The Lithuanian won the stage and now leads by 3’33” over Marek Łój. Defending champion Ahli suffered mechanical problems, significantly hurting his title chances.
Looking Ahead to Stage 3
Tomorrow, the rally enters marathon mode. Competitors will face a challenging 388-kilometer stage, including 237 kilometers against the clock. The first motorbike rider will start at 08:00 AM (GMT+4), followed by the first car at 10:20 AM. The excitement continues to build!
