Mutaiwei and German co-driver Andreas Schulz were unable to catch leader Jean-Louis Schlesser on the fifth and final 287.32km leg of the 2012 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Friday. The X-raid Mini All4 Racing crew was delayed replacing a viscous fan on the Mini's engine this morning. They had to stop several times and this spoiled the Emirati's chance of taking a potential stage win. Schlesser and Russian co-driver Konstantin Zhilstov had a comfortable overnight lead to fall back on in any case and the two-time Dakar champion managed to reach the finish line to confirm a record-breaking sixth Desert Challenge victory since 1994 and an early lead over Al-Mutaiwei in the 2012 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies. “This is probably the most demanding rally with sand dunes in the world,” said Al-Mutaiwei, who finished the stage in sixth position to confirm second overall. “I am happy to finish second and to see that I still have the speed to match the rest after the seven-year absence. I must not forget that this is still a learning year for me and to finish second is still a pleasing achievement. “Now I can look ahead to the new event in Qatar later this month and continue the progress I have shown on the Desert Challenge and since the Baja in Italy last month.” Frenchman Patrick Sireyjol finished the final stage in fourth with his SMG Buggy and that was sufficient to seal the final podium position behind Schlesser and Al-Mutaiwei. The UAE's Yayha Al-Helai completed the gruelling rally, held across treacherous soft sand and in punishing temperatures, in fourth overall with his Nissan Patrol. Russian Ilya Kusnetsov rounded off the top five in his BMW X3 CC after setting the third fastest time on the final stage. The next round of both the FIA and FIM World Cups will be the inaugural five-day Sealine Cross-Country Rally, organized by the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) on April 15-21.
