Three Drivers Contest the Final Desert Prize at Dubai International Baja

As the FIA World Baja Cup reaches its climax this week, Portugal's Francisco Barreto leads the championship fight into the decisive round, with two rival drivers still mathematically capable of claiming the title across the challenging terrain of Al Qudra.

The desert holds its secrets until the very end. This week, across the remote and unforgiving landscape of Al Qudra, three drivers will pit their skill, strategy and nerve against one another in a championship decider that remains genuinely open. Francisco Barreto of Portugal enters the Dubai International Baja as the leader in his Toyota Hilux IMT Evo, yet his grip on the FIA World Baja Cup title remains far from secure, with South Africa’s Saood Variawa and the Netherlands’ Mitchel van den Brink still within striking distance mathematically.

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, the event is organised by the Emirates Motorsports Organization from 5 to 8 November. The baja serves as the final round of both the FIA World Baja Cup and the FIA Middle East Baja Cup, whilst hosting the penultimate round of the FIM Bajas World Cup.

Beyond the headline championship battle, the SSV title race emerges as perhaps the most compelling storyline. Emirati driver Mansour Al-Helei carries the hopes of home supporters as he competes alongside navigator Khalid Al Kendi in a Can-Am Maverick R, facing Argentina’s Fernando Álvarez and Norway’s Hedda Hosås. Álvarez regained the championship lead following his victory in Qatar alongside French navigator Xavier Panseri, whilst Hosås remains very much in contention with Spanish navigator Pol Tibau. With merely 21 points separating the three leading contenders, the title remains strikingly open heading into the final stages.

The motorcycle and quad competitions bring further richness to the occasion. FIM Bajas World Cup title contender Alex McInnes finished second in Qatar and now prepares to renew his rivalry with Poland’s Konrad Dąbrowski, who claimed his fourth Qatar International Baja motorcycle victory. Emirati rider Mohammed Al Balooshi, one of the UAE’s most successful off-road motorcycle competitors and a former Dubai International Baja winner, will also compete. In the quad competition, Emirati rider Khalifa Al-Bastaki, who claimed victory in Qatar, seeks to maintain his winning form against compatriot Abdulaziz Ahli and Saudi Arabia’s Hani Al-Noumesi.

The event’s Official Automotive Partner, Al-Futtaim Toyota, continues its support by providing vehicles to meet the demanding operational requirements of a rally held across remote desert terrain. Jacques Brent, Managing Director of Toyota and Lexus UAE at Al-Futtaim, observed that motorsport has always held a strong presence in the UAE, and the Dubai International Baja remains an important part of that heritage. The baja, he noted, puts vehicles through conditions that test their capabilities in ways that everyday driving cannot, offering invaluable insights into reliability, durability and performance.

Khalid Ben Sulayem, President of the Emirates Motorsports Organization, expressed his enthusiasm for the championship battles ahead. “Dubai International Baja has become an important fixture on the international motorsport calendar,” he remarked. “We are particularly looking forward to the SSV title battle, where Mansour Al-Helei has a genuine opportunity to win a world title on home soil.” The motorcycle and quad competitions, he added, feature an exceptionally strong field, with several leading riders from the Qatar round taking part alongside Emirati competitors determined to deliver strong performances in front of their home supporters.

The event opens with a Prologue stage at Mushrif National Park on Friday, 6 November, offering spectators free access to international motorsport competition at one of Dubai’s popular outdoor destinations. The main competitive stages will unfold across the challenging desert terrain of Al Qudra, where speed, navigational accuracy and vehicle reliability will prove crucial. Dubai Festival City will serve as the event’s main hub, hosting ceremonial start and finish activities.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The Dubai International Baja forms part of a broader global motorsport calendar that positions the UAE as a destination of genuine international sporting significance. The championship battles unfolding this week showcase the calibre of competition that the region now attracts, drawing elite drivers and navigators from across the world to compete on a truly world-class stage. For motorsport enthusiasts across the emirates, the occasion represents an opportunity to witness international desert rally competition of the highest order.

The participation of Emirati drivers and riders, particularly Mansour Al-Helei’s genuine opportunity to claim a world title on home soil, underscores the depth of local talent competing at the international level. The involvement of regional and local competitors alongside the world’s leading drivers reinforces the UAE’s commitment to developing and nurturing motorsport excellence across the emirate. The free access to the Prologue stage at Mushrif National Park further extends the event’s reach to local communities, democratising access to international sporting spectacle.

Source: WAM

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