Qatar's Nasser Al Attiyah made a perfect start to the UAE Desert Challenge on Monday in his BMX X3 - as he bids to become the first Arab driver for 15 years to win the event.

Al Attiyah headed the car contingent after setting the fastest time on Sunday's super stage. Al Attiyah, the reigning FIA Middle East rally champion, is bidding to become the first Arab driver to win the Desert Challenge since fellow-countryman Saeed Al Hajri scored victory in the event back in 1993.

Al Attiyah had the best of starts to his quest, as he dominated Monday's stage. He finished the day with an 18 minute advantage over Russian Leonid Novitskyi in another BMW X3. Poland's Krzysztof Holowczyc in a Nissan Navara was almost ten minutes further adrift in third place, ahead of the UAE's Yahya Alhelei and New Zealander Glen Reid, both driving Nissan Patrols.