There may not have been any (yes, ANY) Nissans at this year’s Dakar but as we saw at the Russia based Northern Forest Rally, there are Nissans out there in rally-raids globally. Last weekend was the Dubai International Baja. As a FIA “baja” event its fairly short…nothing the length of Dakar or Morocco or similar but still a great test for top end teams. Last weekend saw the event won by perennial frontrunner in Rally Raid events including a number of Dakar stage wins, Yazeed al-Raji in his Hi-Lux developed by the Overdrive team followed by three other Dakar factory (or former factory) vehicles in one JCW Mini and two “Pugs”
Three Nissans entered the FIA level event—a Nissan “pickup” run by Khaled al Feraihi, a South Africa built V8 Navara piloted by Thomas Bell and another Nissan “pickup” driven by Khalid al Helei. Three other Nissan Patrols entered the National event. So a full 20% of the entries between the two levels of entrants were Nissans.
Results? Well…not as good. al Helei who was the highest seeded driver bowed out and DNF’d with a mechanical issue while al Feraihi looks to have suffered some difficulties as was the second to last of the finishers in the FIA class with 14 hours of penalties in 11th place. Thomas Bell actually performed well, with 30 minutes of penalties, finishing some 4 hours behind the winner in 10th place. None of the three Patrols looks to have finished in the regional class.
From the looks of the photos the event was dune heavy and I’m guessing the more limited Patrols were unable to get through the sand in an adequate fashion with the lighter, nimbler, UTVs in their class were able to fly through them. Photos of Bell’s Red-Lined Motorsport Navara look incredible though! Photos credited to MCH Photo
