Juan Cruz Yacopini during a shakedown test near Lusail yesterday.
Lusail: The Qatar International Baja will be officially flagged away from the iconic ‘Way to the World Cup’ landmark on Doha Corniche this evening from 6:20pm onwards.
Competitors taking part in the penultimate rounds of the FIA World and Middle East Baja Cups and the FIM Bajas World Cup will also tackle a Prologue stage today afternoon to determine the starting order for the opening desert selective section tomorrow.
Several leading drivers and riders attended the official pre-event press conference at the Lusail International Circuit yesterday afternoon in the presence of Amro Al-Hamad, Executive Director of the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle (QMMF).
Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and Swedish rival Mattias Ekstrom.
FIA World Cup Baja leader Juan Cruz Yacopini will be competing in Qatar for the second time in a Toyota Hilux and trying to defend his 22-point advantage in the Drivers’ Championship.
The Argentine said: “First of all, I am super happy to be here in Qatar. It is my second time. The strategy is to make a good race. I think navigation is going to be difficult. This is normally a key point in this Baja but I have a really good navigator (Dani Oliveras). We have a good feeling inside the car. We are racing a lot.
“It is going to be a nice race. A key point also is to make a good Prologue and decide the starting position. Maybe not at the front so we have some lines (to follow) but not that bad that it’s a problem. We had a shakedown today to get the correct set-up on the car. It’s a different terrain to Morocco and is super stony and very fast and we need to get the car in perfect condition for this race.”
Dania Akeel is chasing victory in the FIA Middle East Baja Cup against local adversary Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah. The Saudi is upbeat about her chances this weekend.
“Me and Khalifa,” joked Dania. “It was unfortunate in Jordan. I lost some points there that I really wanted. This race I will try to make up the gap. That’s the target. Qatar is a great race, very technical and a lot of variety. Khalifa is a local driver. So it’s going to be a nice challenge. I have a faster car but there are some rougher parts and dunes, some advantages for the lighter cars as well.
“Last year, here, was my first stage win overall in the Ultimate class. It was my first stage win in any rally. The team had changed the part (steering arm failure) after the shakedown. It was a lesson but not a lesson we love. Let’s hope it comes back full circle this year.”
Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari won the last stage of the event in 2024 and is representing the QMMF Team in a Taurus T3 Max. The former FIA Middle East rally champion is fourth in the FIA Middle East Baja Cup’s Drivers’ Championship and second in the Challenger section.
Al-Kuwari said: “I think we go as fast as we can and try and enjoy the weekend. It’s my home rally. I did the last two Bajas here. Good memories from last year. I think we will go for the win to be honest. A quality entry in all the categories, a lot of top drivers. We lost a lot of points in Ha’il and finished fourth there and then we did well in Jordan and won (Challenger). Still two rallies to go, so we have time.”
QMMF and LIC President Abdulrahman Al Mannai and QMMF Executive Director Amro Al-Hamad with the participating drivers and riders during a pre-event press conference yesterday.
Mohammed Al-Balooshi won the event on two-wheels in 2021 and 2024 and will defend a nine-point advantage over his MX Ride Dubai team-mate Rafic Eid in the overall FIM 450cc riders’ championship.
The Emirati said: “We are leading the championship with two more rounds. It is important to secure the lead and then go to the last round in Dubai to, hopefully, win it for the fourth time and the third time in a row. Qatar is one of the most difficult events because of the navigation and the terrain. Our strategy is to take it easy, not to rush things and let the race come to us – like we did last year!”
Today, motorcycles and quads will start the 10.59km Prologue to determine the starting order from 12.25pm with the first cars following from 1.45pm.
Competitors will then transfer to the iconic ‘Way to the World Cup’ landmark on Doha Corniche for the ceremonial start. This starts with motorcycles in reverse seeding order over the start podium from 6.20pm.
2025 Qatar International Baja Entries (SELECTED)
FIA
200. Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Dani Oliveras (ESP) Toyota Hilux IMT Evo *
201. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo*
202. Dania Akeel (KSA)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA) Toyota Hilux+
203. Nasser Al-Ajmi (KUW)/Nuno Sousa (POR) Nissan Safari+
300. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL) Taurus T3 Max
305. Khalifa Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Bruno Jacomy (ARG) Taurus T3 Max+
306. Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari (QAT)/Stéphane Duplé (FRA) Taurus T3 Max+
308. Nouef Al-Suwaidi (QAT)/Aisvydas Paliukenas (LTU) Taurus T3 Max+
406. Mohammed Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Aleksei Kuzmich (UAE) Can-Am Maverick R+
412. Abdullah Al-Khelaifi (QAT)/Abdulaziz Al-Jabri (QAT) Yamaha YXZ 1000R Short Shift
413. Mohammed Al-Marri (QAT)/Hugo Magalhães (POR) Can-Am Maverick R
502. Abdullah Al-Rabban (QAT)/Ali Ajami (ARE) Nissan Patrol+
503. Mohammed Al-Meer (QAT)/Alexey Mun (KAZ) Nissan Patrol+
*denotes registered for the FIA World Baja Cup
+ denotes registered for the FIA Middle East Baja Cup
FIM - Bikes (selected)
1. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (UAE) KTM 450 RR
2. Konrad Dabrowski (POL) KTM 450 Rally
3. Rafic Eid (LBN) GasGas 450 Rally
11. Harith Noah (IND) Sherco 450 SEF
12. Mohammed Al-Kubaisi (QAT) KTM EXC-F 350
20. Abdulrahman Al-Sheeb (QAT) Fantic XEF
Quads
101. Abdulaziz Al-Atawi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor 700
102. Abdulaziz Ahli (UAE) Yamaha Raptor 700R
103. Yaghoob Azadi (QAT) Yamaha Raptor 700R
104. Hani Al-Noumesi (KSA) Yamaha Raptor
