Dubai:Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah emerged at the forefront of the Dubai International Baja's opening stage, completing the race in Al Qudra Desert with a significant lead. Al Attiyah finished 5 minutes and 16.7 seconds ahead of his closest competitor, showcasing his prowess in the challenging desert terrain.

According to Wam, the initial timed stage comprised 177.24 kilometers for cars and 193.90 kilometers for motorcycles and quads. Al Attiyah, accompanied by French co-driver Max Delfino and driving an MD Rallye Optimus, outpaced Dutch driver Mitchel van den Brink and his co-driver Bart van Heun in a Can-Am Maverick R.

Mansour Al Helei from the UAE, with co-driver Khalid Al Kendi, secured third place, trailing the leader by 8 minutes and 39.8 seconds. Their performance bolstered their campaign for the SSV World Baja Cup title.

In the motorcycle division, Britain's Alex McInnes set an impressive time of 2 hours, 38 minutes, and 54.5 seconds riding a KTM 450 RFR, ahead of fellow Briton Ethan Lane and Slovenia's Toni Mulec. However, the competition saw setbacks with two-time champion Mohammed Al Balooshi and four-time quad winner Abdulaziz Ahli withdrawing due to mechanical issues.

Khalifa Al Bastaki of the UAE led the quad category with a time of 3 hours, 31 minutes, and 26.9 seconds, maintaining a substantial lead of 25 minutes and 26.5 seconds over compatriot Ali Al Marzooqi. The rally is set to conclude on Sunday with a final desert stage, covering 191.58 kilometers of timed competition for FIM categories.