Nasser Al-Attiyah leads 2026 Dubai International Baja after stage 1

Al-Attiyah sets the pace in Dubai

Nasser Al-Attiyah, already crowned FIA Middle East Baja Cup champion after winning the Qatar International Baja with navigator Max Delfino, carried that form into the Dubai International Baja. Driving an Optimus MD Rallye, the pair covered Saturday's 177.24 km desert stage near Al Qudra in 2 hours 41 minutes 59.9 seconds, beating Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun's Can-Am Maverick R by 5 minutes 16.7 seconds. Mansour Al Helei and Khalid Al Kendi were third in another Can-Am, 8 minutes 39.8 seconds off the lead, racing in front of a home UAE crowd.

The event, run by the Emirates Motorsports Organization at Dubai Festival City from 5 to 8 November, is the eighth and final round of the FIA World Baja Cup and the fourth and final round of the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. It drew 35 cars split across four classes: Ultimate, Challenger, SSV and Stock.

On two wheels, Britain's Alex McInnes took the motorcycle stage win on a KTM 450 RFR in 2 hours 38 minutes 54.5 seconds, 3 minutes 17.2 seconds ahead of compatriot Ethan Lane on a Yamaha YZF 450, with Slovenia's Toni Mulec third on a KTM. In quads, UAE rider Khalifa Al Bastaki led on a Yamaha Raptor 700, 25 minutes 26.5 seconds clear of Ali Al Marzooqi, after defending champion Abdulaziz Ahli retired with a mechanical problem. South Africa's Saood Variawa, a title contender in cars, also pulled out with mechanical issues.

Title fight heads into Sunday

Al-Attiyah's win did not disturb the FIA World Baja Cup table. Francisco Barreto of Portugal finished Saturday's stage fourth but still leads the championship going into the closing 191.58 km stage on Sunday, with van den Brink's runner up finish keeping his own title hopes alive. The Challenger class crown is also still open, and the SSV and Stock results from Saturday will carry into the final reckoning before the closing ceremony at Dubai Festival City Mall.

How to follow it from India

There is no Indian crew in this year's entry list, but the event sits inside driving range of a direct flight from most Indian metros and the organisers keep public access free at the Mushrif Park prologue and the Festival Bay ceremonial starts. For fans watching from home, live timing and tracking run through the "Track Now" page on the official Dubai International Baja website, with video coverage also carried on FloRacing. Sunday's result decides who takes the FIA World Baja Cup home, and sets the form book ahead of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge later this month, the round that settles this year's W2RC titles.

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