Desert Challenge is best yet, says Sulayem

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, who launched the region's most dramatic motor sport event 16 years ago, admitted today that even he is pleasantly surprised by the quality of the starting line-up as the cross country rallying world shifts its attention to the UAE.

Taking place from 5-10 November under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the event is the final round of both the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.

"We've got a fantastic field of drivers and riders and the top cars, bike and trucks in cross country rallying today," said Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE and chairman of the organising committee.

"When I looked over the final entry list the other day it suddenly hit me - this is best
line-up we have ever had. It couldn't really be much better, and anybody with an interest in motor sport here has to be just as excited as I am."

Sulayem was speaking during a press conference at Dubai International Marine Club, the official headquarters for the 2006 UAE Desert Challenge, where he officially introduced the event's sponsors, and revealed an entry list of 115 competitors from 29 nations.

Speaking on behalf of Nakheel, Dubai's premier property developer and the event's main sponsor, CEO Chris O'Donnell said,

"We are very happy to have formed an association with this exciting event which continues to attract global recognition for the UAE. It just gets better and better, increasing the level of exposure enjoyed by the UAE from year to year. That's obviously a key factor for Nakheel, and for our major landmark developments in Dubai such as The Palm, The World, Jumeirah Islands and Dubai Waterfront."

Also introduced at the press conference were representatives of the other event sponsors,
Nissan Middle East - the Nissan Patrol is the rally's official car - FedEx, Castrol, Hertz UAE, Inmarsat, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, ADNOC, and Emarat.