Dubai Baja: Al-Attiyah wins, Van den Brink takes World Cup
The newsroomUpdated on November 9, 20264 minNasser Al-Attiyah wins the Dubai International Baja, but Mitchel van den Brink, 5 min 18.7 s back in second, clinches the FIA World Baja Cup. McInnes wins the bikes.
Key point
Al-Attiyah wins the Dubai International Baja by 5 min 18.7 s from Van den Brink, who takes the FIA World Baja Cup after Barreto collapsed on the final stage.
Nasser Al-Attiyah has won the Dubai International Baja, the 10th edition of the event, based at Dubai Festival City. The FIA World Baja Cup title goes to Mitchel van den Brink, second overall, who benefited from rival Francisco Barreto falling away on the final stage.
Al-Attiyah wins despite the missed prologue
Al-Attiyah started with a 12-minute penalty for not taking the start of the prologue. The Qatari, with Frenchman Max Delfino (Optimus MD Rallye), set the fastest time on the final 179.56 km stage: 02:48:30.6. Overall he finished in 5h 30m 40.5s, 5 min 18.7 s ahead of Van den Brink and Bart van Heun (Can-Am Maverick R), who ended the final stage just 2.0 s from the winner.
The podium is completed by Sergei Remennik and Aleksei Ignatov (Taurus T3 Max), third at 5h 46m 29.8s. Hamed Al-Wahaibi and François Cazalet (Can-Am Maverick R) took fourth. Of the 35 crews entered, 31 started.
Van den Brink world champion, Barreto out of the fight
For Van den Brink the title confirms a transition year: 2026 was his first full Challenger season, after the SSV world title in 2025. In Dubai he won the Challenger category and, with Van Heun, the FIA World Baja Cup.
His direct rival Barreto could not keep up. The Portuguese passed only 100 of the 167 waypoints on the final day: he receives the maximum stage time of 5 hours plus a 2h 30m penalty. He finishes second in the championship. In the prologue he had set the fastest time, 2 min 55.9 s, before being disqualified for not using the notes supplied by the officials, which left him starting the first stage from 29th.
Al-Attiyah wins all four Middle East rounds
This win is also Al-Attiyah's fourth in the FIA Middle East Baja Cup: he won all four rounds of the season. Ahmed El-Shamy is third in that cup's drivers' standings, with Mohammed Al-Marri second and winner of the SSV title.
Bikes: McInnes untouchable
In the bike class Alex McInnes (KTM 450 RFR) won everything: prologue, two stages and the rally, in 05:21:29.7. Ethan Lane was second at 6 min 35.6 s, Toni Mulec third at 14 min 17.4 s. Abdulhalim Al-Mogheera, who led McInnes by two points in the FIM Bajas World Cup before Dubai, lost more than 30 minutes each day and finished 22nd. The final round of the World Cup takes place in Portugal.
La rédaction
Frequently asked questions
Who won the 2026 Dubai International Baja?
Nasser Al-Attiyah and Max Delfino (Optimus MD Rallye) in 5h 30m 40.5s, ahead of Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun, 5 min 18.7 s behind.
Who wins the FIA World Baja Cup?
Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun, who also won the Challenger category. Rival Francisco Barreto passed only 100 of the 167 waypoints on the final day.
What happened in the bike class?
Britain's Alex McInnes (KTM 450 RFR) won the prologue, both stages and the rally in 05:21:29.7, ahead of Ethan Lane. Dubai was the penultimate round of the FIM Bajas World Cup; the last is in Portugal.
Sources
- FIA — Al-Attiyah and Delfino secure clean sweep of Middle East Baja Cup successes
- RallyTracks — World title for Van den Brink and Van Heun at the Dubai International Baja
Written by the Karrazmotorsport newsroom, proofread before publication. For settings, always refer to your vehicle's manual. Our charter.
Newsletter · free
The Friday paddock
The essentials of motorsport, every Friday in your inbox. Free, one email a week.
Choose my categories
