Desert Racer

The UAE is famous for stunningly beautiful deserts that go on endlessly, and one of the most extreme and prestigious cross-country rally races in the world: The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Last month I had the distinct pleasure of photographing this year’s winner in the Two-Wheel-Drive Petrol Class (and 6th overall): Mark Powell, the owner of Saluki Motorsport, a British-owned garage in Dubai. Not for the faint of heart or weak of knee, these desert racers are launching themselves off of mountainous dunes at speeds of 120 mph or more - and they’re doing it for five days straight. They’re insane. Think Mad Max without the weapons and you’ll start to get the idea. Photographed in the Rub’ Al Khali Desert outside of Abu Dhabi.