Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and Chairman of the General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare, officially launched the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge powered by Nissan. Sheikh Nahyan, accompanied by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Automobile and Touring Club for the UAE, the rally organizers, flagged away leading competitors on the super special spectator stage at Al-Forsan International Sports Resort. Polish driver Jakub Przygonski and American Bryce Menzies, both driving Minis, shared the fastest time in the 54-strong cars category while this year's Dakar Rally winner Toby Price was quickest of the 39 riders as competitors raced head-to-head on the twisting 2km track.