The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has attracted one of the most powerful international competitor line-ups in its history for the 25th anniversary edition of the event later this month. Three reigning world champions, Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev, brilliant Spanish rider Mark Coma and Polish quads star Rafal Sonik, head an entry list of 162 competitors from 36 countries announced by the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE, the Desert Challenge organisers.

Vasilyev, who scored victory in Abu Dhabi last year on his way to winning the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies, returns to defend his title alongside co-driver Konstantin Zhilstov in one of eight X-Raid-entered Minis. They are among 50 car crews going into action in the 25th Desert Challenge, which gets under way with an afternoon super special spectator stage at Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday 28 March.

Coma, who secured the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for a sixth time last year and in January scored his fifth Dakar Rally triumph, will be looking to take his KTM to an eighth Desert Challenge success.

Sonik, meanwhile, will be aiming to complete back-to-back Desert Challenge victories to launch his bid for a second successive FIM world quads crown.