ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Administrative checks: Yas marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi

The sky is covered but temperatures reache 35° Celcius in Abu Dhabi for the first day of scrutineering before the start of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

 

In the paddock of the Yas Marina Circuit, we start feeling the heat while the service teams take care of the last details. At the Polaris Xtremeplus Team, the mechanics start adjusting the seats and steer wheels of two RZR, a blue and a red one for the two “rookies” of this class: Pietro and Ale Fogliani and Jes Munk, with Sebastien Delaunay as his co-driver. The Danish returns to cross country rally after being badly hurt in a bike accident two years ago … but this time on four wheels!

 

Jes Munk / Sebastian Delaunay N°347: “ It´s a pleasure for me to see my old rally buddies again, and they have all given me a warm welcome, tells Jes. I discover the RZR which is quite different than the one I have at home… it has buttons everywhere, and Sebastian tries to explain, but I think that there will be some work before I remember everything, says while laughing. I am a bit old and I can´t wait to start, and to be back in the dunes!”

 

Pietro Fogliani N°348: It´s been six years since the Italian was not face to face with the desert, but the call from cross country rally is irresistible, so after having spent many races in the truck with Marco Piana, owner of Xtremeplus Polaris Factory Team, he has also participated in the Dakar 2009 on a quad. Tomorrow, Pietro will be steering the RZR in the start of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. “I have never driven an RZR, tells Pietro with a hidden smile, and I just arrived this morning. It´s a beautiful machine, simple and smartly developed to go on the sand.”

 

Ale Fogliani N° 348: Ale is 19 yrs. Old and discovers a new world in his first rally raid race. “I have raced in mini-cross and scooter, but never on a car… and even less on the sand! I had the opportunity to test the RZR with Marco in Dubai a couple of days ago and I really liked it! Now we will see… There is a lot to learn!”

 

Tomorrow, the RZR Polaris Xtremeplus crews will go for their first tours before completing the technical scrutineering and leave their machines in the Parc Fermé until the start of the race.