Dubai International Baja
The Dubai International Baja (formerly known as the Dubai International Rally) is an international baja rally event based in Dubai held around the facilities of the Dubai Innovation Centre.
History
The rally, a gravel and sand event, dates back to 1984 and it used to be the final event of the Middle East Rally Championship each year. The rally changed its name to the Emirates Rally in 1989 but changed back the following year.
In 2016 the rally was reformatted into a cross-country rally and hosted a candidate event for the FIM and FIA cross-country world cup events. In 2017, the rally became an official event, hosting competition in both the car and bike categories.
The rally has been dominated in the car category by Emirati driver Mohammed bin Sulayem who has claimed 15 victories including twelve consecutive wins from 1991 to 2002. Eleven wins have been taken by Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah, including a run of eight straight from 2007 to 2014.
Winners
Auto
List of winners sourced in part from:[1][2]
| Year | Driver | Codriver | Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 |  Chris Walles | Steve McCormack | Datsun Silvia |
| 1983 | Chris Walles | Steve McCormack | Datsun Silvia |
| 1984 |  Saeed Al-Hajri | John Spiller | Porsche 911 SC |
| 1985 |  Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ali Hassan | Toyota Celica TCT |
| 1986 | Mohammed bin Sulayem |  Sölve Andreasson | Toyota Celica TCT |
| 1987 |  Reinhard Hainbach | Erhard Ricken | Opel Manta 400 |
| 1988 | Mohammed bin Sulayem |  Ronan Morgan | Toyota Celica TCT |
| 1989 | Björn Waldegård | Fred Gallagher | Toyota Celica GT-Four |
| 1990 | Suhail Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum | Mubarak Al Hajri | Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 |
| 1991 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Toyota Celica GT-Four |
| 1992 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Toyota Celica GT-Four |
| 1993 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1994 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1995 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1996 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1997 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Escort RS Cosworth |
| 1998 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Escort WRC |
| 1999 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Focus WRC |
| 2000 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | Ronan Morgan | Ford Focus WRC |
| 2001 | Mohammed bin Sulayem |  Khaled Zakaria | Ford Focus WRC |
| 2002 | Mohammed bin Sulayem | John Spiller | Ford Focus WRC |
| 2003 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Steve Lancaster | Subaru Impreza WRC |
| 2004 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Chris Patterson | Subaru Impreza WRX STi |
| 2005 | Khalid Al-Qassimi | Nick Beech | Subaru Impreza WRX STi |
| 2006 | Khalid Al-Qassimi | Khalid Alkendi | Subaru Impreza WRX STi |
| 2007 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Chris Patterson | Subaru Impreza WRX STi |
| 2008 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Chris Patterson | Subaru Impreza WRX STi |
| 2009 | Nasser Al-Attiyah |  Giovanni Bernacchini | Subaru Impreza WRX STi |
| 2010 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ford Fiesta S2000 |
| 2011 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ford Fiesta S2000 |
| 2012 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ford Fiesta S2000 |
| 2013 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ford Fiesta S2000 |
| 2014 | Nasser Al-Attiyah | Giovanni Bernacchini | Ford Fiesta RRC |
| 2015 | Khalid Al-Qassimi | Chris Patterson | Citroen DS3 RRC |
| 2016 | Ahmed Al Maqoodi | None | Polaris RZR 1000 (T3) |
| 2017 | Nasser Al-Attiyah |  Mathieu Baumel | Toyota Hilux |
| 2018 |  Kuba Przygonski |  Tom Colsoul | Mini John Cooper Works Buggy |
| 2019 | Kuba Przygonski | Timo Gottschalk | Mini John Cooper Works Buggy |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | ||
| 2021 |  Yazeed Al Rajhi | Michael Orr | Toyota Hilux Overdrive |
Bikes & Quads
| Year | Bike | Quad | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rider | Vehicle | Rider | Vehicle | |
| 2016 | David McBride | KTM 450 RR | Abdulmajeed Al Khulaifi | Yamaha YFZ 450 |
| 2017 |  Mark Ackerman | Husvqarna 450 FX |  Fahad Al Musallam | Yamaha 700 Raptor |
| 2018 | Mohammed Al Balooshi | KTM 450 | Fahad Al Musallam | Yamaha 700 Raptor |
| 2019 | Aaron Mare | Husvqarna 450 FC | Khalifa Al Raisee | Honda 700 TRX2 |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||
| 2021 | Sam Smith | KTM 450SX-F | Haitham Altuwayjiri | Yamaha YZF450R |
External links
- Official website
