Abu Dhabi – Prologue: Dacia wins with Al-Attiyah, Loeb 3rd

• A month after a laborious Dakar, Dacia wants to relaunch the Sandrider machine on the roads of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The Romanian manufacturer got off to a good start in this second round of the 2025 W2RC season, as Nasser Al-Attiyah set the best time in the Prologue in Al Ain.
• On the short 11-kilometre special, which does not count towards the overall standings of the event, the Qatari was the fastest in 6'23"8, five seconds ahead of his closest pursuer, Lucas Moraes (Toyota). With this best time, the Dacia driver will be able to choose an optimal starting position on Sunday, for the first stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, 243 kilometers long between Al Ain and Mezeer'ah.
• Back on board the Dacia Sandrider after his premature retirement from the Dakar, Sébastien Loeb showed himself to be in the running by setting the third time of this Prologue, nine seconds behind his teammate. The two official Dacias are therefore on the first podium of the race. The Frenchman should benefit from some tracks to launch his event on Sunday, at the start of the first stage.
• Mattias Ekstrom's first Ford is 6th (+15″), Joao Ferreira's first Mini 7th (+15″). Bad luck for Yazeed Al-Rajhi, however: the Dakar winner and world championship leader finished 9th (+19″) and should logically start among the first drivers on Sunday for the first stage. Without any traces, the Saudi could already take a lot of time.
• A historic day in W2RC as Khalifa Al-Attiyah (QMMF – Nasser Racing) won the Prologue in the Challenger category. The Qatari posted the 15th fastest time, 32 seconds behind his brother. This is the first W2RC victory for the younger Al-Attiyah, the first “double” for a sibling in the world championship!

W2RC – Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
Prologue – Ranking

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