Dutch entrepreneur Kees Cullen adds a new chapter to his busy rallying career by participating in the first edition of the Baja Abu Dhabi Rally this weekend. Colin, a former chief operating officer of Uber, who founded his own clean energy company earlier this year, will take part in the two-day event alongside his Dutch assistant Jurg van den Gorbeer on board his Can-Am Maverick X3. , While looking to win his second title among the dunes of the desert of the Empty Quarter. Colin, one of the founders of the popular Booking.com website that sold millions, is a true desert rival, having participated in the Dakar Rally since 2009 on a bicycle, a quad, an SUV and a truck.
Colin won the four-wheel drive category at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2018, and is now returning to the UAE to compete in the UTV category. Under the patronage of the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, the Baja Abu Dhabi Rally will be held in the Liwa Desert on the 15th and 16th of this year and will be the fifth round of the Emirates Baha Rally Championship 2019, organized by the Emirates Motor Sports Club. On the other hand, Emirati Saif Al Muhairi is looking to strengthen his lead in the UTV Vehicle Championship, five points behind Rashad Faraj with the launch of the Baja Abu Dhabi Rally next Friday morning, from the desert rally headquarters in Tel Merheb. The contestants are awaiting two special phases of 250 kilometers in a total track of 280 kilometers.
Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi, the UAE driver, is seeking his fourth win in the tournament to boost his preference in the T1 car category, while Mohammed Al Balooshi, champion of the 2018 MotoGP World Rally Championship, hopes to consolidate his lead in the 450 MotoGP category.