The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC) resumed its route towards Mezaira'a, a destination not visited since 2002, marking a return to the origins of the competition. This turn of the route introduced an additional challenge for competitors in different categories.
During the first stage towards the Liwa Oasis, Guillaume de Mévius, from Overdrive Racing, had to withdraw due to an injury after a hard landing on a dune. His teammate, Guerlain Chicherit, achieved victory in this stage, while Nasser Al Attiyah maintained his leading position in the general classification. In the Challenger category, the Can-Am Factory team stood out again with a one-two finish by Austin Jones and Rokas Baciuska. However, in SSV, Joao Ferreira faced mechanical problems, leaving the victory to Yasir Seaidan from MMP.
The incident with Mévius occurred at kilometer 80 of the stage, when his vehicle abruptly landed on a dune. This mishap resulted in a lumbar injury that required his helicopter transport to a nearby hospital for evaluation and treatment. Despite Chicherit's victory in the stage, the team did not celebrate due to concerns for Mévius's health.
In the overall standings, Al Attiyah continues to lead the list, closely followed by a group of competitors from Toyota Gazoo Racing and Overdrive Racing. Among them, Lucas Moraes and Juan Cruz Yacopini stand out in the following positions. Martin Prokop, on the other hand, faced difficulties after breaking a shock absorber on his vehicle, causing him a significant delay and a drop in the classification.
In the Challenger category, the dominance of the Can-Am Factory continued with Jones and Baciuska in the top positions, while in SSV, Yasir Seaidan took the lead in the overall standings after Ferreira's withdrawal due to mechanical issues.
The ADDC continues its exciting route with the next stages scheduled for February 29, March 1 and 2. The next stage, organized by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, will cover a total of 414 km, including a special of 251 km.
| Position | Driver | Co-driver | Team | Vehicle | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | N. AL-ATTIYAH | E. BOULANGER | NASSER RACING | PRODRIVE | 9 | 5 | 9 |
| 2 | L. MORAES | A. MONLEON | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING | TOYOTA | 4 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | J. YACOPINI | D. OLIVERAS CARRERAS | OVERDRIVE RACING | TOYOTA | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | S. QUINTERO | D. ZENZ | TOYOTA GAZOO RACING | TOYOTA | 3 | - | 3 |
| 5 | G. CHICHERIT | A. WINOCQ | OVERDRIVE RACING | PRODRIVE | 5 | - | 5 |
| 6 | M. PROKOP | V. CHYTKA | ORLEN JIPOCAR TEAM | FORD | 1 | 1 | 1 |
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