Dubai, UAE: Saudi rally driver Yazeed bin Mohammed Al Rajhi, the reigning World Cup champion, is gearing up to participate in the seventh and final round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas, Baja Dubai. The event is scheduled to take place in Dubai from November 10th to 12th, organized by (FIA).

This marks Al Rajhi’s third participation in Baja Dubai, this time alongside his German navigator Timo Gottschalk. Baja Dubai is renowned for its challenging desert rally tracks, and Al Rajhi clinched the title in 2021 driving a Toyota Hilux. He also secured first place in the T1 Plus category. With the competition set to kick off today, the duo is eager to claim victory and triumph in this thrilling desert challenge over the weekend.

Baja Dubai consists of two stages preceded by a brief ceremonial stage, covering only two kilometers on Friday near the rally headquarters at Dubai Festival City Mall. This event provides families and rally enthusiasts with a fantastic opportunity to witness the action up close and interact with the drivers and their vehicles.

The first stage will commence on Saturday, November 11th, stretching across the challenging terrains of the Qudra desert, featuring soft sands and dunes, posing real challenges to the drivers. They will need to showcase their car control skills and handle the changing desert conditions over a timed distance of 168.40 kilometers.

On the following day, the competition will continue with the completion of the second stage, where drivers will navigate through the Qudra desert, covering a distance of 169.05 kilometers, all under strict timing conditions. This stage demands continuity, high focus, and resilience from the drivers as they face the rugged challenges of the desert, providing a unique and exhilarating experience for all participants.

Despite a challenging start to the season due to an injury that prevented his participation in the first two rounds (Baja Hail and Baja Qatar) and the inability to secure crucial points for defending his title, Yazeed Al Rajhi’s determination, fighting spirit, and dedication have shone through. He made a strong comeback, delivering outstanding performances in the subsequent rounds. After overcoming obstacles and achieving remarkable results, he is now poised to secure the runner-up position in the World Cup this weekend.

Commenting on his participation, Yazeed Al Rajhi said, “We conducted private tests for our car yesterday, and we are ready and excited to tackle Baja Dubai in its new edition after the preparations and training we underwent throughout the season. We anticipate a new challenge and fresh competition in the sands of Qudra, just like last year. We are confident in our abilities and our perfect performance as always as we strive to win the Baja Dubai title for the second time.”

This time, Al Rajhi will drive the new Toyota Hilux for the 2024 season, unveiled during the recent Argentina round in the W2RC. This car will be used for the fifth edition of the Saudi Dakar Rally and other global rally competitions next year.

He added, “I express my sincere thanks to our official partner, Abdul Latif Jameel Motors, for their continuous and generous support of my rally career in international, regional, and local sports events. We look forward to a bright future and renewed successes, and we reiterate our deep gratitude to our sponsor for their continuous support and the confidence they place in us.”

World champion’s navigator Timo Gottschalk, commenting on his preparations for Baja Dubai, said, “This will be the first time I accompany my exceptional teammate Yazeed Al Rajhi in Dubai. I had a wonderful experience as a navigator with another colleague in the past two years. I am extremely excited and eagerly look forward to this unique experience. We will do our utmost to achieve an honorable victory this weekend.”