Dubai International Baja 2024: Crew of Sergei Remennik and Alexey Ignatov
The 2024 Dubai International Baja takes place from November 28 to December 1. It is counted towards the final round of the FIA World Baja Cup and the Middle East Bajas Cup, as well as the FIM Bajas World Cup for motorcyclists and quad bikers. This event will not only determine the winners in the individual categories, but will also name the overall World Cup winners among drivers and co-drivers.
The event takes place in the picturesque areas of Hatta and the sand dunes of the Emirate of Dubai, offering competitors a challenging and interesting route. The central point of the competition is the Dubai Festival City. This year the Prologue is located near the city of Hatta, in the Hajar Highlands. This will add to the spectacle and attract a local audience. The competition marks the celebration of the 45-year history of the event, which began as the Dubai Rally in 1979.
The international entry list includes 46 crews, which are joined by 17 teams in the National category. Many athletes, including favorites and notable names, has come to the United Arab Emirates not only to train before the upcoming start of the DAKAR, but also to drive the nail home in the fight for the World Cup titles.
Attention to Favorites
In the Ultimate category, it is worth mentioning the Portuguese Joao Ferreira, who is fighting for the title in the overall standings. This crew combines an experienced navigation with an aggressive driving. It is a worthy competitor to the Czech Miroslav Zapletal, known for his successful performances in the World Cup and confident passage of technically challenging stages. A strong contender for the podium is the crew of Denis Krotov and Konstantin Zhiltsov, who recently won the Qatar International Baja. It is also worth mentioning the full lineup of Toyota Gazoo Racing factory drivers: Lucas Moraes and Seth Quintero, who are preparing for the next stage of the DAKAR rally.
In the Challenger category, the legendary driver and eight-time World Champion, Nasser Al-Attiyah, at the wheel of the Taurus T3 Max is using the Dubai Baja as a test for his new project. Among the contenders for high positions are also Khalid Aljafla, the category leader, and Eduard Pons, who has repeatedly shown excellent results in this class.
Among the female crews, Dania Akeel from Saudi Arabia, who recently moved up to the Ultimate category, stands out, as does Norwegian Hedda Hosas, a newcomer to motorsports, who previously competed in rallycross and the Extreme E Championship for electric cars.
Russians at Dubai International Baja
Can-Am Maverick R of Remennik/Ignatov Crew
A solemn Russian team in Can-Am Maverick SSVs with technical support from the BIG RED RACING Team once again performs in the National standings of the Dubai International Baja in the SxS Pro category. Crew No. 603 consisting of Sergei Remennik and Alexey Ignatov starts with an intention to achieve a good result. Crew No. 604 of Alexey Shmotyev and co-driver Egor Okhotnikov and crew No. 609 of Maxim Deykin and Kirill Izotov also count on high results. Rais Minnikhanov (No. 611) and Sergey Karyakin (No. 612) perform solo, that is, without the help of co-drivers. All crews, except Minnikhanov, are driving the new 2024 BRP R-model SSV, equipped with an off-road seven-speed Rotax DCT transmission instead of a variable-speed one and an improved suspension (with a high steering knuckle), the unique design of which is designed to reduce the load on the components, providing excellent shock absorption, increased torsional rigidity, as well as improved stability and control.
The SxS Pro (Side-by-Side Professional) category attracts attention with its unique dynamics. These compact SSVs, called lightweight buggies, combine the maneuverability of motorcycles with the stability of cars, which makes them almost ideal for desert competitions. They are especially effective in sand dunes due to their lightness and improved suspension. Many athletes choose this class of vehicles as an affordable, but high-performance one for participating in world competitions.
Sergei Remennik and Alexey Shmotyev
Sergei Remennik, driver, “I’m very happy to be here again, to put on the overalls and get behind the wheel of a racing car. But the most pleasant thing is to work in a crew [Remennik drove the previous two competitions in the standings without a co-driver, ed. note]. And I certainly would like to note that Big Red Racing did a great job in such a short time! And I feel like I’ve taken to everything I’ve been doing my whole life like a duck to water. The guys are setting up the cars, we are testing them, making some comments. They are making corrections, the co-driver and I are setting up, working on communication, noting for ourselves what will be important to us. I’m studying the car a little more (of course, I have only a very superficial knowledge of it so far). I like everything very much; we’ll see how it goes further.
At the previous rallies, I lacked this communication a little. I’ve been driving with a co-driver all my life, that is, he gives me instructions, and I follow them, it’s simple. It was harder to formulate tasks for yourself, especially here in the sands, when there is no clear road, like in a classic rally. In the sands, you not only don’t know where you need to go. Sometimes you don’t even have an idea of what is ahead of you — a desert, dunes, when you need to go in the hors-piste. And it’s really cool when you have a co-driver who corrects you! Then you start working on short-term tasks, and the co-driver has already looked at what is ahead and formulated a long-term goals. That is: “yes, yes, everything is fine, just let’s go left there.” This work of the crew together is much more interesting, the speed, reliability and other things are higher.
At the Baja, we have long stages and, compared to a classic rally, the pace is different. That is, here you don’t have to drive all out for 20—30 minutes and then rest. Here you just need to calculate your strength and the car’s resources differently, as I understand it, choose a pace at which you can cover this distance, preferably faster than others.”
Alexey Ignatov studies how to use the navigating device
Alexey Ignatov, co-driver, “This is not the first time I’ve been a co-driver in rally-raids. I did it in 2013 with our Chelyabinsk driver, so I already have some experience. Sergei and I have long been hatching the idea of driving together as a crew, and now this opportunity has presented itself. We will both be useful to each other in some way: I will be interested in driving on the sand in this car, and Sergei will find my experience in rally-raids useful. We’ve done tests and I want to say that Sergei is gradually developing an understanding of how to drive on the sand, and he is doing quite well!
Maverick R, after our Gazelles [Ignatov participates in Russian competitions as a driver for the GAZ Raid Sport Team, ed. note], violates the laws of physics when driving on sands: it doesn’t pay attention to the height of the climbs at all, which is a little unusual for me. I would look for some detours in such places to avoid difficult climbs. And in this Maverick you can drive almost anywhere. During this journey we aim to perhaps formulate some calendar for joint performances next season. I don’t know, maybe these will be Middle Eastern events in some quantity, or maybe Sergei wants to drive rounds of the Russian championship. All this is currently under discussion and I think that based on the results of this rally we will make further decisions; we will see what comes of it.”
Preparation and Start
On Thursday the crews went through the pre-start formalities. The Prologue is on Friday, based on the results of which the starting positions will be distributed. However, for the National classification crews participation in it was cancelled. The Baja Organizers wanted the athletes to be able to show their maximum at the main selective sections in the desert, allowing them to avoid technical problems on the rocky and narrow road in the mountainous regions of Hatta. The Ceremonial Start is scheduled for 19:30. The award ceremony for the Dubai International Baja winners will be held on December 1 at 19:00.
Additional Information:
Friday, November 29 — Prologue for the international event competitors, the Ceremonial Start of the Baja.
Saturday, November 30 — start of the first stage: a selective section of 195 km and liaisons of about 164.88 km.
Sunday, December 1 — start of the second stage: another selective section of 195 km and liaisons of about 164.88 km. Final checks and award-giving.
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