The first stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge took competitors through a grueling 400-kilometer route, with 243 kilometers against the clock. Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) made history by securing his first victory in the rally, while Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda HRC) remained unbeatable in the motorcycle category.
Moraes Takes His First Victory
After a disappointing 2024 performance, Lucas Moraes immediately set the tone this year. The Brazilian driver defeated Dacia drivers Sébastien Loeb (+1’01”) and Nasser Al Attiyah (+2’16”), securing the overall lead. His Toyota teammate, Seth Quintero, finished third at +2’07”. Saood Variawa completed the top five, while the X-raid Mini JCWs of Guillaume de Mévius and João Ferreira finished just behind them.
Challenger: Akeel Claims the Win, Klaassen Impresses with Fourth Place
Dania Akeel (BBR Motorsport) benefited from a penalty given to her competitor Yasir Seaidan and took the victory in the Challenger class. Seaidan received a one-minute penalty for a false start, allowing Akeel to win with a 59-second advantage. Pau Navarro completed the podium.
An impressive performance came from Puck Klaassen, who finished fourth in her G Rally Team OT3. The South African driver was only 4 minutes and 37 seconds behind the winner, immediately positioning herself as a serious contender.
SSV: Al Helei Bounces Back
Mansour Al Helei recovered after his prologue penalty and secured his first victory in the SSV class. The Emirati driver finished with a significant lead over Enrico Gaspari (+7’41”) and Michele Cinotto (+11’37”).
Schareina Maintains Lead in Motorcycles
Following his prologue win, Tosha Schareina also secured victory in the first stage of the RallyGP class. The Honda rider held a comfortable margin of 1’54” over Ricky Brabec and 3’18” over Luciano Benavides (KTM). Schareina extended his lead in the overall standings, now 2’07” ahead of Brabec and 3’22” ahead of Benavides.
Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda HRC) struggled, losing several minutes. Tomorrow, Schareina will open the stage, giving his rivals a chance to regain time.
Rally2: Docherty Narrowly Wins, Koolen Finishes Solidly
Michael Docherty (SRG Motorsports) claimed a hard-fought victory in Rally2, finishing just one second ahead of Edgar Canet. Tobias Ebster secured third place, trailing by +10’12”.
Dutchman Kees Koolen rode a steady stage, finishing 32nd among the motorcycles, with a deficit of 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 52 seconds behind winner Schareina. “A few small dune sections and some camel grass added variety,” said Koolen about his day in the desert.
Quads: Ahli Recovers with a Dominant Win
After a tough prologue, Abdulaziz Ahli bounced back with a commanding victory. He immediately took the overall lead, holding a 13’20” advantage over Antanas Kanopkinas and 16’35” over Marek Łój.
Preview of Stage 2
The second stage will take the competitors on a 320-kilometer loop around Mezaira’a, with 228 kilometers as a timed section. The first motorcycle will start at 08:00 AM (GMT+4), followed by the first car at 10:20 AM. The battle is in full swing!
