The first Emirati in 25 years to create history at the FIA calendar-marked challenge

Dubai, April 15, 2017 – The PEUGEOT 3008DKR scorched the best time on the fifth and final stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, with UAE’s celebrated racing driver on the wheel, Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al Qassimi, who claimed an historic overall victory on the third round of 2017 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. 

PEUGEOT SPORT’s official driver Sheikh Khalid proved to be very strong in racing the dunes of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge aboard his PEUGEOT 3008DKR – run by PH Sport. Scoring an epic last stage win with a steady pace, he went over the 5 days of intense action and 1 324km of timed sections with the overall best chrono (19h16min24,8). 

The victory is history-making as no Emirati has won the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge ever since it was made an official round of the FIA Cross Country Rallies World Cup in March 2009 - not since Mohammed Mattar won it from 1991-92 when the event was known as the UAE Desert Challenge.

Sheikh Khalid and the PEUGEOT 3008DKR are now leading the general classification of the FIA Championship with 85 points.

The new PEUGEOT 3008 DKR, inspired by the series car the SUV Peugeot 3008, has established itself as the undoubted ruler of the gruelling 2017 Dakar Rally that took place in South America last January. There, Team PEUGEOT TOTAL scored a one-two-three podium, which has stirred Sheikh Khalid to seek victory at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. 

Cedric Zayoun, Managing Director of the GCC region at PSA Group, stressed the Group’s keenness to support motorsport in the region and to take part in different rallies, especially the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, that has become a mainstay on the international motorsport calendar. He said: ‘’We would like to congratulate Sheikh Khalid bin Faisal Al Qassimi on the occasion of his admired win at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. We are very proud of him as PEUGEOT SPORT’s official driver, who is always eager to reflect the brand’s image at its best.”

Up next for Sheikh Khalid and PEUGEOT 3008DKR is the Qatar Cross Country Rally, Round 4 of the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, from April 17-22.