The stage is set for a classic cross country rally weekend as the Dubai International Baja powered by AW Rostamani and Nissan sends a powerful international force of drivers and riders into action in the Al-Qudra desert. Taking place under the patronage of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai, the third edition of the event is the second round of the 2019 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Bajas for cars and buggies and the opening round of this year's FIM Bajas World Cup for bikes and quads. Based at Dubai Autodrome, the event is supported by the Government of Dubai, Dubai Police, Dubai Municipality, the General Authority of Sports, Dubai Customs, Al-Ain Water and Emarat petrol. Top-seeded UAE driver Khalid Al-Qassimi, partnered by French navigator Xavier Panseri in his Abu Dhabi Racing Peugeot 3008 DKR, will lead a 34-vehicle lineup away from the ceremonial start at Dubai Autodrome at 6 p.m. Thursday. Lying ahead in a route totalling 607.11km in length is a special stage of 201.6km which is extended to 204.93km on the following morning before the survivors return to Dubai Autodrome for the official finish at 5 p.m. "We're very grateful to the government for the consistent support it has given to rallying in Dubai over many years," said Mahir Badri, General Manager of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE at today's official press conference at Dubai Autodrome. Al-Qassimi, whose hopes of a cars victory last year were ruined by a first stage mechanical failure, faces a succession of world-class challengers. They include the 2018 winner and world champion, Poland's Jakub Przygonski, this time partnered by German co-driver Timo Gottschalk in a MINI John Cooper, as well as last year's runners-up, Russia's Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov in a Toyota Hillux Overdrive. Meanwhile, Czech driver Martin Prokop accompanied by Jan Tomanek in a Ford Raptor RS Cross Country will be looking to add to their success in last year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Other top overseas contenders include Polish driver Bartlomiej Boba and Finland's Tapio Suominen in the Toyota Hilux which gave them third place in this season's first World Cup round in the frozen forests of Northern Russia, as well as Miroslav Zapletal and Marek Sykora who placed fourth in that event in a Ford F150 Evo.
