(MENAFN- The Peninsula) With one more day remaining in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, powered by Nissan, Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah is firmly on course for his second victory in the event.
In the bikes category, reigning world champion Marc Coma looks within reach of registering his eighth success in the UAE.
Partnered by French co-driver Mathieu Baumel in his Mini All4 Racing and looking to repeat his success of 2008, Al Attiyah won yesterday's 258km Nissan Patrol special stage - leaving defending champion Vladimir Vasilyev behind and extending his overall lead over the Russian to 19min 47secs.
With Dutchman Erik Van Loon another 20 minutes away in third, Britain's Harry Hunt, Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al Rajhi and Poland's Marek Dabrowski complete the top six.
It was a bitterly disappointing day for Sheikh Khalid Al Qassimi, holding fourth place overnight on his Desert Challenge debut, and his fellow Emirati driver Yahya Al Helei, winner of the first stage on Sunday.
Partnered by Portuguese co-driver Jose Marques in a Toyota Hilux, Al Qassimi retired halfway through the stage with a gearbox problem, but after such a strong showing on his first appearance in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies there could be much more to come from him.
Al Helei, who had slipped to ninth 24 hours earlier after outpacing the factory cars in his locally-built Nissan Pick-up, rolled early on the stage and then suffered a heavy landing after 35km. Co-driver Khalid Al Kendi was freed from the car by the medical team and evacuated by helicopter to Madinat Zayed Hospital with back injuries.
By then the reign of Portugal's Paulo Goncalves as Desert Challenge bikes champion had already been ended by mechanical problems.
The 234km Abu Dhabi Aviation Special Stage 5 takes the rally to its finish at Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi, at 4.30pm today.
"It's very unfortunate for Sheikh Khalid who was making a strong challenge for the top three, but that's rallying," said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE - the rally organisers. "After winning the first stage, Yahya has had a tough time but we've seen two Emirati drivers fighting it out with the best in the world and doing their country proud. Khalid Al Kindi is a top-class co-driver and we hope he makes a full and quick recovery."
Fittingly, the T2 class winner on the Nissan Patrol stage was Denis Berezovskiy from Kazakhastan in a Nissan Patrol, although the UAE's Mansour Al Helei - son of Yahya - retained his overall production class lead in another Patrol.
There were no problems for stage winner Matthias Walkner, nor for his KTM team-mate Coma, who was second fastest on the day to extend his overall lead from Dubai-based Sam Sunderland to 11 minutes and 55seconds.
While the UAE's top two drivers had a day to forget, the country's leading rider, multiple Arab motocross champion Mohammed Al Balooshi, again underlined his ability among the world's best to be sixth fastest on the stage and sixth overall. Chile's Pablo Quintanilla, Portugal's Ruben Faria and American Ricky Brabec, filled the other top six places.
Victory on the stage gave Qatar's Mohammed Abu Issa an overall lead of 24minutes and 43 seconds from last year's Desert Challenge quads winner and reigning world champion Rafal Sonik of Poland.
Reaching the end of the Nissan Patrol stage, Al Attiyah said: "It was tough today, it was very hot and the sand is very hot but we did a good job. We took a lot of caution in this stage because there were a lot of big holes so we needed to manage the terrain but our Mini did well and the Michelin tyres worked great in the dunes."
"I am happy to finish without any drama and safely. We don't even see dunes like this in Dakar. The Desert Challenge is one of a kind and we are always learning," the Qtari said.
His closest competitor, Vasilyev, said: "We don't want to push too hard to fight Nasser and make a mistake. The dunes are hot and sometimes we have to try and find another way around. We take care and try and stay safe, that's our priority."
Five-time Dakar Rally winner Coma said at the end of the bike stage: "I rode in a group of five and in the earlier part across the open desert we managed to get a good rhythm going. I then took it easy because of the extreme driving conditions and the heat. I'm very happy with today's stage."
Sunderland, who is just behind Coma in the overall standings, said: "I feel sorry for Paulo as he had a bike problem but this is life and rallying. If there's anyone you have to lose against, you want it to be Marc. He's a great rider so hopefully we can get a KTM 123 on the podium."
Stage winner Walkner said: "This stage was really nice, the dunes come in a bit more rounded and were pretty fun to ride. I really enjoyed it but I tried to push a lot and am happy to have won the stage by ten seconds."
After completing the stage Al Balooshi said: "Today was very difficult and hot and with a high heart beat it's even hotter. Although I am 100 percent fitter than last year, I feel fatigued on day four and also need to improve my recovery time. I feel excited to be driving home tomorrow."
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