Morning Intermediate Desert Drive - Return of Sweihan challenge - Abu Dhabi - 10 Jan 2026

[Glenn W]

@GauravSoni I’m sorry I’m just getting home from a long day at work. Faced too many delays throughout the day which was supposed to be a nice easy one. Always the way. I’ve pulled out of the drive. Thanks. Have a great day all! 

[W a q a r]

Thank you @GauravSoni for the amazing Sweihan drive. It was a perfect adrenaline filled experience and truly deserves to be called the “Sweihan Rollercoaster.”

A big thank you @Sam Selim, @ChrisW, and @Anoop Nair for the support. Everyone drove beautifully, and I’m glad to have been part of the convoy today. Looking forward to the next drive.

Wishing everyone a great weekend ahead.

[Giacomo]

Great IM drive, good mix of fast pace and climbs. Really enjoyed second part with the focus on keeping up the pace and clean lines - requiring quick thinking and reactions time. Good fun thanks @GauravSoni.

More IM drive options but with smaller convoys would also be great I guess.

Thanks to the supports as well @Sam Selim @ChrisW @Anoop Nair and SL @Jose Luis Campos. Saw great team work.

 

Edited January 11 by Giacomo

[ChrisW]

That was a tremendous IM drive @GauravSoni - really nicely led. Good lines, supportive vibe in the group…a good skills refresher to start 2026 with. 
 

I especially liked the format we used in the later part of the drive - navigating point-to-point, minimal radio, maximum emphasis on each driver using their initiative. To me this is the essence of an IM drive - each driver and car taking responsibility to conduct their best individual approach whilst moving in convoy. It would be good to see more drives like this to help further consolidate skills. 
 

Was a pleasure being out with all of you, and hope to see you again soon. 
 

Sharing a double-perspective video of slightly creatively using side-sloping to intercept a descending ridge-line. I wouldn’t usually attempt this (and it was hard on the engine), but the particular shape of this sand and line brought it together:

And then a cut together of a few clips:

 

 

 

 

[Jose Luis Campos]

After 1 day and a half, I'm still smilling like a child!!! What a drive! I feel that all my skills were called in for that drive.

Thank you very much @GauravSoni for pushing and challenge me as you did while keeping everything safe. It was a really complete morning, where I had some refusals (even after repeated atemps), my first pop out ever, some early exits, but also a lot of achievements and climbs that I would swear I couldn't do it. Lot's of adrenaline, quick decisions, speed, (some very long!) ridge ridings, high dunes, amazing landscape... well, I couldn't ask for more in my second IM drive. Lot's of learnings and I thank you for that. And that last part of navigation...wow, what a finish!!! Amazing. @GauravSoni, I wouldn't change a thing!

Thank also to @ChrisW, @Sam Selim and @Anoop Nair for your guidance and support, especially your help in my pop out.

And of course, thanks to all the other convoy drivers. The spirit of the drive was simply amazing, one of the best I had!! Looking forward to drive with all of you soon.

Cheers