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  • Günther times his attack to perfection to grab last-gasp glory in Jeddah

    Sport newsMaximilian Günther converted pole position into victory in the inaugural Jeddah E-Prix today (14 February), grabbing the bull by the horns to dramatically snatch the lead almost within sight of the finish line on an historic day for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.For the majority of the 31-lap contest, honours looked to be going the way of Mexico City winner Oliver Rowland, who got the better of defending champion Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) on the opening tour and subsequently relieved Günther of the lead at one-third distance.From there on in, the Nissan Formula E Team star seemed to be comfortably in charge as he pulled away to the tune of almost five seconds. He maintained his advantage through the mid-race Pit Boost sequence, as all drivers made a mandatory 30-second pit-stop for a 10% energy boost (3.85kWh) via a 600kW booster – an innovation appearing for the first time in the all-electric single-seater series.Günther, conversely, lost out in that phase, slipping from second to eighth, but the German was in no mood to lie down without a fight. In just his third outing for DS Penske, the 27-year-old knew he still had a trump card to play, with two Attack Modes remaining while some of his immediate rivals had only one. He deployed them to perfection.In tandem with Season 7 champion Nyck de Vries, Günther began scything through the pack, going on to displace the Mahindra Racing driver around the outside at Turn 8 in the closing stages before hunting down Rowland for the lead.Even with the pair both in Attack Mode as the E-Prix neared its end, the DS Penske man kept narrowing the gap, posting a blistering new fastest lap in his efforts to turn up the wick. Running nose-to-tail as the chequered flag waited and with Rowland struggling for energy, Günther seized his chance and swept by on the run towards the final chicane, in so doing becoming the first driver to win from pole in Formula E since the start of Season 10.The result also represented DS Penske’s first triumph in more than two years, and glory for a third different manufacturer in as many rounds in 2024-25, while for Rowland, the runner-up spoils propelled the Briton past Porsche’s António Félix da Costa to the summit of the title table.The duel for victory very nearly turned into a three-way tussle as Rowland defended and Günther attacked, enabling Taylor Barnard to latch onto their heels in the last laps. The youngest driver in the field, the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team teenager was a factor throughout, impressively fighting past countryman Jake Hughes (Maserati MSG Racing) and de Vries to secure a second rostrum result in three races.De Vries wound up fourth on another strong day for Mahindra – building upon the team’s five-six finish from the São Paulo curtain-raiser – with stablemate Edoardo Mortara charging up the order from the back of the grid to seventh at the flag. In-between them, Hughes took fifth with two-time champion Jean-Éric Vergne sixth in the second DS Penske car.McLaren’s Sam Bird recovered from an opening lap spin to battle back to eighth, with ninth for da Costa seeing the Season 6 title-holder surrender his advantage in the Drivers’ standings to Rowland. Stoffel Vandoorne snared the final point on offer in tenth for Maserati, but Jaguar TCS Racing endured another double failure to score, as Nick Cassidy could fare no better than 11th and Mitch Evans 20th – the latter getting caught up in two collisions that prompted an unscheduled pit visit for repairs and a time penalty.The first of those coming-togethers also ruined the race of another title protagonist, leaving Wehrlein with a right-rear puncture and dropping the German – a front row starter – out of contention.Formula E’s Middle Eastern action continues tomorrow (Saturday, 14 February), with round four of the campaign getting underway at 20:05 local time (18:05 CET).Maximilian Guenther, No.7, DS Penske, said:“This means everything to me. It’s the first win with my new team, DS Penske. It was a lot of hard work, a big race but an amazing outcome for us. We lost quite a few places around the pit stop window, but we just stayed calm and did our race. I didn’t expect to come back all the way. I thought a podium would have been good, but to do it in the end and to win it is an extra special feeling. I didn’t want to leave it until the last corner but there was no other option - Oli was doing a mega job today, a great race. I believed until the end!”Oliver Rowland, No.22, Nissan Formula E Team, said:“We had a plan before the race and we executed it pretty well. I’m a little bit disappointed because when I had such a gap, if I’d under consumed a bit I’d have had enough energy to defend from Max [GUENTHER]. He caught me napping a little bit and I couldn’t do much in the last corner. Nevertheless we scored some great points and on to tomorrow.”Taylor Barnard, No.5, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said:“Starting from P4 a podium was always my hope, but you never know how the race is going to play out. It was the first PIT BOOST race as well, so to know that we’ve done the procedure that well as a team, I couldn’t be happier to be P3.”  Final Race Classification Final Drivers' Championship Classification Final Teams' Championship Classification Final Manufacturers' Championship Classification   ABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipFormula ESEASON 2025SportCircuit1SportABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipCircuitSEASON 2025Formula E00Friday, February 14, 2025 - 10:02pmFriday, February 14, 2025 - 10:02pm
  • New Al-Ain start and heavily-revised route for 34th edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

    • by rlevin on 2025년 02월 13일
    Sport newsThe brainchild of the current FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem since its inauguration in 1991, the Marlboro Desert Challenge became a round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies in 1993 and has been an ever present in the world’s premier off-road series ever since. This year it will again be the second round of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).The 34th Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has moved its start location to the garden city of Al-Ain for the first time. The Emirates Motorsports Organisation (EMSO) has radically revised the itinerary this year as well. Over half of the desert route through the vast Rub Al-Khali is new and the timetable features a Marathon stage on days three and four through the remote Al-Qua’a region for the first time.The 2025 edition has attracted 51 entries in the FIA section, with 22 competing in the Ultimate category, 15 in Challenger and 14 in SSV. Of those, 34 are registered for points in the W2RC.Five-time Dakar Rally winner Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah may top the Ultimate entry with French co-driver Edouard Boulanger in the first of two Dacia Sandriders, but his Saudi rival Yazeed Al-Rajhi and German navigator Timo Gottschalk will take the start with a 15-point lead in the Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championships after last month’s Dakar win.Toyotas run by Overdrive Racing and Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) dominate the top section of the entry list. Exactly half of the 22 Ultimate cars are derivatives of the bullet-proof Toyota Hilux, with TGR’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings holding second in the championship after their runner-up spot at the Dakar.TGR will also run Hiluxes for Brazilian Lucas Moraes and American Seth Quintero Junior and a second IMT Evo for Saood Variawa. In addition to overseeing Al-Rajhi’s entry and providing full-service support to the TGR entries, Belgium-based Overdrive Racing will also field cars for Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini, talented Lithuanian Rokas Baciuška, Denis Krotov, Hernan Garces and the Polish father and son duo of Eryk and Marek Goczal.The two Poles graduated from the Challenger category and missed the opening round, while   Spaniard Oriol Mena rejoins young Eryk Goczal as his navigator. Only Chilean driver Garces is not registered for the W2RC.Al-Attiyah finished third at the Dakar and trails Al-Rajhi by 22 points in the Drivers’ Championship. His Dacia team-mate is the nine-time WRC winner Sébastien Loeb, who was dramatically disqualified from round one after an accident damaged the roll cage on his Sandrider. He teams up with Belgian navigator Fabian Lurquin, but Cristina Gutiérrez is not present in the third car on this occasion.The Ford M-Sport Team has also entered a two-car team. Carlos Sainz and Joan Roma will not make the trip to Abu Dhabi and picking up points for both the W2RC Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships falls to Mattias Ekström and Mitch Guthrie in their Ford Raptors. They both enjoyed strong Dakar outings and hold fourth and joint fifth in the Drivers’ Championship. Emil Bergkvist and Kellon Walch will read the road books for the Swede and the American.Toyota Gazoo Racing is currently 32 points clear of Ford M-Sport in the W2RC Manufacturers’ Championship with Dacia 49 points adrift in third. Al-Rajhi, Moraes and Quintero will represent the Japanese manufacturer in the UAE, while Al-Attiyah and Loeb will be looking for points for Dacia.There is strength in depth throughout the Ultimate category: Czech privateer Martin Prokop currently holds 13th in the Drivers’ Championship and again teams up with Viktor Chytka in a Ford Raptor RS Cross-Country. The X-Raid team fields just two Mini JCW Rally machines on this occasion. Following a serious injury sustained in a freak road accident in France recently, Mathieu Baumel’s place alongside Belgian driver Guillaume de Mévius is taken by Alex Winocq in a petrol-engined version of the Mini.Last year’s FIA World and European Baja Cup winners, João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro, use a diesel-engined derivative and an Ultimate class machine for the first time on the driver’s third visit to the event. They currently hold ninth in their respective championships after round one. W2RC-leading Cavigliasso and Pertegarini head strong Challenger category Eleven of the 15 Challenger entrants are registered for the W2RC and seven of the top 10 drivers who scored points at the Dakar Rally will be present in Al-Ain.The Argentinian duo of Nicolas Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini have a 21-point cushion after the opening round and head the field in the first of 10 Taurus T3 Max machines on the entry.Young Spaniard Pau Navarro teams up with new co-driver Jan Rosa Vinas for his challenge for points in a Taurus. He currently holds third in the rankings, 23 points ahead of joint fifth-placed Saudi driver Yasir Seaidan. Neither Gonçalo Guerreiro nor Corbin Leaverton are present in the UAE.Pole Adam Kus, Qatar’s Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah, Saudi Arabia’s Dania Akeel, Spaniard Eduardo Pons and Emirati Khalid Al-Jafla provide the main competition in Taurus T3 Max machinery. Marco Franco lines up in an X-Raid YXZ 1000 R Proto and Pedro Gonçalves wheels out the new X-Raid Yamaha Fenic. Puck Klaassen and Charan Moore team up in a G Rally Team OT3.Non-registered drivers include the Brazilian Marcos Baumgart and Frenchman Gregory Lefort in their Taurus entries and the talented young French girl Mathilda Lauwens (OT3). Portugal’s Pinto and Oliveira head SSV entryOnly five of the 14 entrants in the SSV category are registered for the W2RC and there is an absence of cars from the Can-Am Factory and South Racing Can-Am Teams.Portugal’s Alexandre Pinto has a 25-point lead in the championship standings after the Dakar Rally and he and Bernardo Oliveira head the field. Enrico Gaspari picked up points for second in Saudi Arabia and teams up with Fausto Moto to provide the closest challenge in their Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR.With Sara Price, Roger Grouwels and Manuel Andujar all absent, that has opened the door for French veteran Claude Fournier to improve on his sixth place in the current SSV standings. Italy’s Michele Cinotto is also registered for the W2RC in a Polaris and the talented local driver Mansour Al-Helai has entered the event in the first of three Liwa Team UAE Can-Am Maverick Rs, has registered for points and could well be the favourite to claim the win with his considerable local experience of the terrain.The list of non-registered drivers includes his father Mansour Al-Helai and former WRC driver and MERC champion Sheikh Khalid Al-Qassimi in a pair of Liwa Team UAE Maverick Rs.  The field also includes former quad rider Atif Al-Zarouni and Argentina’s Jeremias Ferioli in a Can-Am Factory Team Maverick R. The routeThe revised route features a new Prologue at the nearby Jebel Hafit Desert Park and then a new start from the oasis city of Al-Ain on February 22nd. The opening selective section then heads from Al-Ain to the bivouac camp at Mzeer’ah on February 23rd and stage two loops through the desert around Mzeer’ah.Days three and four constitute a new Marathon stage for FIA vehicles between the bivouac in Mzeer’ah and a night stop at the remote Al-Qoua Marathon camp. Competitors will be deprived of service assistance and team support before the return to the bivouac in Mzeer’ah on February 26th.The final stage on February 27th heads out of Mzeer’ah en route to a finish in Abu Dhabi. Provisionally, there are 1,189 competitive kilometres in a compact route of 1,920km.The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is being held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative Court in Al-Dhafra Region. Supported by the Abu Dhabi Sports Council, it is also backed by ADNOC Distribution, the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi and other governmental entities, in addition to Al Futtaim-Toyota and DHL.His Excellency Nasser Al-Mansoori, undersecretary of the Ruler’s Representative Court Al- Dhafra Region, said: “His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan is pleased to extend his patronage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge as the event enters its 34th year. A second consecutive visit to Mezeer’ah, as well as exciting firsts for the event in Al-Ain and Al-Qua’a, highlight the innovative nature of the Desert Challenge as it continues to shine as the second round of the W2RC.” 2025 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – entry list:Ultimate 200. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Edouard Boulanger (FRA)                                                             Dacia Sandrider         201. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (KSA)/Timo Gottschalk (DEU)                                                                               Toyota Hilux Overdrive203. Lucas Moraes (BRA)/Armand Monleón (GER)                                                                               Toyota GR DKR Hilux204. Seth Quintero (USA)/Dennis Zenz (GER)                                                                                        Toyota GR DKR Hilux205. Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Daniel Oliveras (ESP)                                                                            Toyota Hilux Overdrive206. Rokas Baciuška (LTU)/Pablo Moreno (ESP)                                                                                    Toyota Hilux Overdrive208. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Michal Goleniewski (POL)                                                                        Ford F-150*209. Hernan Garces (CHI)/Juan Pablo Latrach (CHI)                                                                              Toyota Hilux Overdrive*210. Aliyyah Koloc (SEY)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA)                                                                              Red-Lined Revo T1+ Turbo*211. Henk Lategan (RSA)/Brett Cummings (RSA)                                                                                  Toyota Hilux IMT Evo213. Eryk Goczal (POL)/Oriol Mena (ESP)                                                                                              Toyota Hilux Overdrive214. Marek Goczal (POL)/Maciej Marton (POL)                                                                                    Toyota Hilux Overdrive216. Ahmed El-Shamy (EGY)/Ali Hassan Obaid (UAE)                                                                           Fast & Speed 2WD*217. Denis Krotov (KGZ)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (ISR)                                                                                Toyota Hilux Overdrive218. Saood Variawa (RSA)/François Cazalet (FRA)                                                                                Toyota Hilux IMT Evo219. Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL)                                                                                   Dacia Sandrider221. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Viktor Chytka (CZE)                                                                                      Ford Raptor RS 222. Guillaume de Mévius (BEL)/Alex Winocq (FRA)                                                                             Mini JCW Rally 3.0i226. Mattias Ekström (SWE)/Emil Bergkvist (SWE)                                                                               Ford Raptor228. Mitch Guthrie (USA)/Kellon Walch (USA)                                                                                      Ford Raptor               240. João Ferreira (POR)/Filipe Palmeiro (POR)                                                                                    Mini JCW Rally 3.0D242. Daniel Schröder (GER)/Henry Köhne (RSA)                                                                                    Volkswagen WCT Amarok Challenger 301. Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG)/Valentina Pertegarini (ARG)                                                                 Taurus T3 Max302. Puck Klaassen (RSA)/Charan Moore (RSA)                                                                                     G Rally Team OT3303. Gregory Lefort (FRA)/Serge Gounon (FRA)                                                                                    Taurus T3 Max*304. Pau Navarro (ESP)/Jan Rosa Vinas (ESP)                                                                                                         Taurus T3 Max305. Adam Kus (POL)/Dmytro Tsyro (UKR)                                                                                            Taurus T3 Max306. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Bruno Jacomy (ITA)                                                                      Taurus T3 Max307. Mario Franco (POR)/João Miranda (POR)                                                                                      X-Raid YXZ 1000R Proto308. Marcos Baumgart (BRA)/Kleber Cincea (BRA)                                                                               Taurus T3 Max*         309. Yasir Seaidan (KSA)/Michael Metge (FRA)                                                                                     Taurus T3 Max310. Dania Akeel (KSA)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA)                                                                                      Taurus T3 Max           311. Pedro Gonçalves (POR)/Hugo Maghalães (POR)                                                                           X-Raid Yamaha Fenic312. Eduardo Pons (ESP)/Jaume Betriu (ESP)                                                                                         Taurus T3 Max313. Khalid Al-Jafla (UAE)/Andrei Rutnitski (ANA)                                                                                 Taurus T3 Max314. Jonathan Hart (GBR)/Ali Mirza (UAE)                                                                                             Can-Am Maverick X3*315. Mathilda Lauwens (FRA)/Andre Leyh (BEL)                                                                                   G Rally Team OT3* SSV 401. Alexandre Pinto (POR)/Bernardo Oliveira (POR)                                                          Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR402. Enrico Gaspari (ITA)/Fausto Mota (POR)                                                                     Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR403. Claude Fournier (FRA)/Patrick Jimbert (FRA)                                                               Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR404. Michele Cinotto (ITA)/Alberto Bertoldi (ITA)                                                               Polaris RZR Pro R Sport405. Mansour Al-Helai (UAE)/Khalid Al-Kendi (UAE)                                                           Can-Am Maverick R406. Khalid Al-Qassimi (UAE)/Ola Floene (NOR)                                                                  Can-Am Maverick R*407. Yahya Al-Helai (UAE)/Mohammed Hamri (UAE)                                                          Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR*408. Aleksander Szustkowski (POL)/Jaroslaw Kazberuk (POL)                                            Polaris RZR Pro R Sport*410. Hedda Hosas (NOR)/Pol Tibau Roura (ESP)                                                                 Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR*411. Atif Al-Zarouni (UAE)/Mohammed Hassan Innab (UAE)                                              Yamaha YXZ 1000 R*412. David Mabbs (GBR)/David McBride (UAE)                                                                   Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR*413. José Nogueira (POR)/Arcelio Couto (POR)                                                                   Can-Am Maverick XRS Turbo RR*414. Marian Andreev (ROU)/Matei Negulescu (ROU)                                                         Polaris RZR Pro R Sport*415. Jeremias Ferioli (ARG)/José Sebastian Cesana (ARG)                                                  Can-Am Maverick R**denotes not registered for the W2RC Timetable of eventsFriday, February 21 Administration checks                                                Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain – 07.00hrs-16.00hrsScrutineering                                                              Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain – 08.00hrs-19.00hrsPre-event press conference                                        TBA, 19.00hrs                 Saturday, February 22Prologue – 15km                                                      Jebel Hafit Desert Park, Al-Ain – 10.00hrs onwardsCeremonial start                                                       Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al-Ain – 18.00hrs onwards                                                                      Sunday, February 23Stage 1 – 243km                                                       Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium bivouac to Mzeer’ah bivouac Monday, February 24Stage 2 – 228km                                                       Mzeer’ah bivouac to Mzeer’ah bivouac Tuesday, February 25Stage 3 – 238km                                                       Mzeer’ah bivouac to Al-Qoua Marathon camp Wednesday, February 26Stage 4 – 295km                                                       Al-Qoua Marathon camp to Mzeer’ah bivouac Thursday, February 27Stage 5 – 145km                                                       Mzeer’ah to Abu DhabiPrize giving ceremony                                             TBA, Abu Dhabi – 19.30hrs FIA World Rally-Raid ChampionshipCross CountrySEASON 2025SportCross-Country1SportFIA World Rally-Raid ChampionshipCross-CountrySEASON 2025Cross Country01Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 5:13pmThursday, February 13, 2025 - 5:13pm
  • ACL Reinvents Autotouring: A Modern Mobility Resource for Members

    Members newsWith 76% of members considering Autotouring a credible and valuable resource, ACL has reimagined its content and format to enhance accessibility, readability, and engagement. "Our goal is to make the magazine more dynamic and relevant, appealing to a wide audience with diverse mobility interests—from cars and motorcycles to cycling and sustainable transport," says Miriam Eisenmenger, CEO of ACL.A New Digital Experience for MembersRecognising shifting reading habits, ACL is expanding Autotouring beyond print with the launch of a dedicated digital platform, autotouring.lu, set to go live in Spring 2025. The website will feature a curated selection of magazine content alongside exclusive digital-first articles, interactive formats, and extended features. "This platform allows us to cater to the increasing demand for digital content while giving important topics more space than was possible in the print edition," explains Vincent Huwer, ACL’s Communications Director.Enhanced Content and Member InvolvementFollowing extensive feedback from members—including nearly 1,500 comments—ACL has refined both content and presentation. Greater emphasis has been placed on visual storytelling, with richer imagery and a structured, reader-friendly layout. Members will also have the opportunity to contribute directly by suggesting topics, reinforcing the magazine’s role as a community-driven publication.Expanding Accessibility with a Multilingual ApproachFor the first time, Autotouring will be available in English, in addition to French and German. While the print edition remains in its traditional languages (with a circulation of over 141,000 copies per issue), the English version will be accessible digitally, broadening ACL’s reach and inclusivity."Since its inception in 1937—and its transformation from Auto-Route in 1955—Autotouring has evolved alongside ACL. Our commitment remains the same: to inform, inspire, and support our members in all aspects of mobility," concludes Miriam Eisenmenger.FIA Clubs and partners will have exclusive digital access to Autotouring in all three languages, reinforcing ACL’s commitment to knowledge-sharing across the global mobility community. ClubsMobilityMembersMembers1MembersClubsMobilityMembers00Thursday, February 13, 2025 - 11:36amFriday, February 14, 2025 - 11:36am

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