Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah Claims Sixth Baja Spain Aragón Victory

Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah claimed his sixth victory in the Baja España Aragón on Saturday, extending his lead in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ Championships.

Al Attiyah and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel won the four-day event by a margin of 1 minute and 43.2 seconds over the Brazilian duo of Lucas Moraes and Kaique Bentivoglio.

The win was Al Attiyah’s third consecutive victory in the Baja España Aragón, and his fifth overall. It also puts him in a strong position to win the FIA World Cup, which he currently leads by 37 points.

“I am very happy for this victory, my sixth here in Baja Spain,” said Al Attiyah. “It’s incredible to have won, it was an edition with record participation, with Audi, Toyota and Ford and with the best drivers in the world. It’s the last Baja race for me with Toyota.”

Al Attiyah had a strong start to the event, winning the Prologue stage on Friday. He then went on to win two of the six special stages on Saturday, and one of the four special stages on Sunday.

Moraes and Bentivoglio put up a strong challenge, but they were unable to match Al Attiyah’s pace. The Brazilian duo finished second, followed by Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Zala and Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

The 39th edition of the Baja España Aragón was a tough event, with the competitors facing challenging terrain and extreme temperatures. However, Al Attiyah and Baumel were able to overcome the challenges and claim victory.

This is a fantastic result for Al Attiyah and Baumel, and it puts them in a strong position to win the FIA World Cup. They will be looking to continue their success in the next round of the series, which will be held in Morocco in October.

Nasser Al Attiyah is a true legend of cross-country racing, and his victory in the 2023 Baja Spain Aragón is another testament to his skills. He is now the only driver to have won the event six times, and he will be looking to add to his tally in the future.

Source and cover image credit: fia.com