Nissan shows its off-road reputation and quality at Desert Challenge

28.10.2008 – Dubai / Cairo –
A few weeks ago the Pharaos Rally 2008 took place in Egypt. Unfortunately no major car manufacturer or famous racing team participated officially or unofficially in this rally, as it is not a round in the 2008 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup. Not even JEEP/Chrysler considered participating although they assemble the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler in Egypt at the AAV factory. In the UAE, where the Desert Challenge is part of the 2008 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, it is slightly different. Therefore it is no wonder many of the world’s automakers choose the cruel, unforgiving environment of the UAE desert to test the durability, quality and reliability of their future, still secret SUVs. The consistently high temperatures and merciless terrain quickly uncover any design weaknesses that would otherwise take years to reveal themselves in everyday use.

And yet tomorrow more than 100 competitors in vehicles, trucks and bikes will pit their skills against the desert as they set off on the Nissan Special Stage 3 which forms the fourth competitive day of the 2008 UAE Desert Challenge. According to Nissan, the Nissan stage has long been recognized as one of the most difficult stages to successfully negotiate, and this year will be no different.

“The Nissan Stage is the third leg of the UAE Desert Challenge and traditionally one of the hardest stages of the challenge taking place across some of the most demanding desert terrain in the region. Drivers will need to be extremely vigilant and supported by a strong vehicle like the Nissan Patrol to be able to get across� said Monal Zeidan, General Manager of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Nissan Middle

Tomorrow, competitors will take off from the Moreeb Hill Bivouac at 6:50am and go on for 340 kilometers, most of which will be in the UAE’s notoriously harsh desert dunes, making the Nissan Stage the most demanding stage of the Desert Challenge. For four nights, the event is based at the Moreeb Hill bivouac, close to the Liwa oasis, and special stages stretch out into the legendary Empty Quarter, or Rub Al Khali, providing drivers and riders with an exhilarating test of skill and endurance.

This year Nissan Middle East will present a new trophy pertaining to the Nissan Stage. “We want to recognise the highest placed Nissan team finishing the Nissan Stage by presenting �The Naturally Capable Cup’ which derives its name from Nissan’s current �naturally capable’ SUV advertising campaign� said Zeidan. “Nissan has a comprehensive eight model line up of Nissan SUVs – the largest SUV line-up in the Middle East. The Nissan Patrol has, and continues to be, the competitive vehicle of choice for many teams entering in the UAE Desert Challenge thanks to its renowned reputation for durability, quality and reliability� he concluded.

The UAE Desert Challenge is the final round of the 2008 FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup and the 2008 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.

Hopefully we will be able to see some more professional involvement of the major car manufacturers next year in Egypt as well.