End of career postponed: Dirk von Zitzewitz drives Dakar Rally with Sheikh Al Qassimi

In fact, Dirk von Zitzewitz had already written off the Dakar Rally 2022 and “made friends” with the end of his career. But six weeks before the start of the 43rd edition of the most famous of all desert rallies, a car door opened unexpectedly. “The manager of Abu Dhabi Racing asked whether I was still free and would drive the Dakar with Sheikh Khalid Al Qasimi. And after one or two conversations I said yes, ”reports von Zitzewitz. The Karlshofer will roll into his 23rd Dakar on New Year’s Day with starting number 206, which will lead through Saudi Arabia for the third time. And that in a Peugeot buggy.

DvZ had already come to terms with the role of a consultant

“I had already resigned myself to only being there as an advisor at the Dakar,” says von Zitzewitz, “and then the surprising call came.” Villiers belongs to the elite circle of Dakar legends and had already put down his road book. After his bad rally accident in the summer of 2019, he had celebrated a promising comeback to the Dakar with the Saudi Yazeed Al Rajhi in January, was also at the front in other rallies, but he pondered. He knew he could continue to navigate on a world-class level. But the strain on his back, his stiffened spine, pushed him to the limit. When there were no offers from top teams, he interpreted it as a sign of farewell, but kept a small door open. And it opened now.

Khalid Al Qasimi is no stranger to “DvZ”. The 49-year-old Emirati, who was born in Abu Dhabi, finished second in the World Cup race in Dubai. The sheikh has been behind the rally steering wheel for 20 years and was Middle East champion in 2004. He is also the man behind Abu Dhabi Racing, not only a driver but also chairman of the team that operates in various motorsport disciplines. Zitzewitz and Al Qasimi had actually already agreed in the spring to drive the Dakar. “But since his main financiers, tourism companies from Abu Dhabie, had no income due to the corona, he canceled,” reports von Zitzewitz. Apparently the source of money is now gushing again.