DUBAI: Nissan Middle East is gearing up for another exciting season of desert racing, as it looks forward to powering the 2019 edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (ADDC). Taking to the dunes from 31 March to 4 April, ADDC is one of the region’s most anticipated annual five-day motorsport events and forms the third round of this year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. This is the 16th year that Nissan Middle East has sponsored the prestigious motorsport event.

Nissan’s support of ADDC begins even before the event gets underway, with a fleet of Nissan Patrols being supplied to the race organisers. These allow officials to travel through the desert dunes and map out the course in the months leading up to the race. The all-terrain Patrols will also be utilised during the event itself, playing an indispensable role in assisting drivers, and in transporting race officials, marshals, dignitaries and media representatives to the special vantage points on the different stages. 

In addition to providing the fleet of Patrols and naming the event “Powered by Nissan”, the carmaker’s sponsorship extends to naming a Special Stage. The most challenging single element of the race, the Nissan Special Stage 3 will take place on Monday, April 2nd. At 297.97 kms it is the longest of the five individual Special Stages and will take place among massive dunes in the beautiful LEWA desert.

Speaking at the ADDC 2019 signing ceremony said Kalyana Sivagnanam, Regional Vice President, Marketing and Sales, AMI said: “We are proud of our long and ambitious association with motorsports in the region and are excited to be an essential element of ADDC for the 16th consecutive year. The Nissan Patrol’s rugged durability and reliability in the region’s tough climatic conditions has not only made it an inseparable part of the cultural fabric of the Middle East, but a perfect partner to the Challenge. We are looking forward to another year of exhilarating desert racing.”

“Over the past 16 years, Nissan’s support has been invaluable in helping the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge grow from strength to strength” added Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE, the rally organizers, and FIA Vice President-Sport. “Nissan Middle East’s enthusiasm for ADDC is matched only with by the company’s commitment to ensuring its long-term success. I am confident that working together we will continue to ensure that this epic event will continue to set the bar in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.”

Formed under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region, the five-day Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is one of the world's most prestigious international cross-country rallies. Over the years, it has seen many of the biggest names in international motorsports tackle the dunes of the UAE, including Carlos Sainz, Colin McRae, Ari Vatenan, and Heinz Kinigadner. ADDC is also the qualifying round of the 2019 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and the 2019 FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies.

Coming off the back of Nissan’s headline sponsorship of the Dubai International Baja held earlier this month, the carmaker’s support for the Desert Challenge reflects its unwavering commitment to motorsport in the region and one that is unrivalled in the Middle East off-road scene.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will run from 31 March to 4 April.

For more information visit http://abudhabidesertchallenge.com .

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About Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. In fiscal year 2017, the company sold 5.77 million vehicles globally, generating revenue of 11.9 trillion yen. On April 1, 2017, the company embarked on Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, a six-year plan targeting a 30% increase in annualized revenues to 16.5 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2022, along with cumulative free cash flow of 2.5 trillion yen. As part of Nissan M.O.V.E. to 2022, the company plans to extend its leadership in electric vehicles, symbolized by the world's best-selling all-electric vehicle in history, the Nissan LEAF. Nissan’s global headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, manages operations in six regions: Asia & Oceania; Africa, the Middle East & India; China; Europe; Latin America; and North America. Nissan has partnered with French manufacturer Renault since 1999 and acquired a 34% stake in Mitsubishi Motors in 2016. The Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi alliance sold 10.76 million vehicles combined in calendar year 2018.

For more information about our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit nissan-global.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn and see all our latest videos on YouTube.

Media contacts
Mohammed Al Tawil
Deputy General Manager - Corporate Communications
Nissan Middle East FZE
Tel: +971 4 881 7500
Fax: +971 4 881 9747
E-mail: Mohammed.Tawil@nissan-me.ae 
Bilal Bhaila
Edelman Middle East
Mobile: +971 50 437 2408
Email: Bilal.Bhaila@edelman.com 

© Press Release 2019

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