DUBAI // The head of a leading motorsports club has paid tribute to a Ukrainian rally driver who died after his car became trapped in a sand dune in the UAE’s Empty Quarter.
Vadym Nesterchuk, 42, a father of two, was believed to have been walking between his stranded vehicle and a nearby village when he collapsed from dehydration. His body was eventually found near Liwa Oasis by searchers using GPS.
Dr Mohammed ben Sulayem, president of the Automobile and Touring Club of the UAE and a former rally champion, said Nesterchuk was a popular figure.
“Vadym was a very popular competitor and we are deeply saddened by this tragic news,” said Dr ben Sulayem. “He will be sadly missed, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.”
Nesterchuk was a regular competitor in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and finished fourth in last year’s FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies in the T2 category.
Dr ben Sulayem said the touring club did not know Nesterchuk was in the UAE and should have been told of his plans to train alone in the desert.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian ministry of foreign affairs said: “The cause of his death was dehydration. He was training in the desert and his car had technical problems. He decided to walk to the nearest settlement and fell down dead.
“The police investigation is under way and the Ukrainian diplomatic mission is doing its best to solve the problem of the repatriation of the body. We don’t have any information so far on whether anyone was with him.”
Nesterchuk's death is the third in less than a week in the Empty Quarter. Last Friday, a Qatari man and his wife were found dead after losing their way in the Saudi Arabian part of the vast desert.
The touring club last year commissioned a report into dehydration in local motor-racing competitions.
Published in February this year, it found that 86 per cent of marshals at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, 61 per cent of those working on the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and 54 per cent of the volunteers for the Dubai Rally suffered from dehydration.
“As organisers of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which takes place in some very remote desert areas, we go to great lengths to ensure the safety of competitors, volunteers, officials and all others involved,” said Dr ben Sulayem.
“We are always looking to do more to ensure the wellbeing of those taking part, and this is why we commissioned a report on hydration last year that will help organisers of motor sport events worldwide provide better protection for marshals, competitors and officials from the risk of dehydration.
“We are now sharing the results of the research with all relevant government ministries and sporting bodies internationally so that everyone can benefit.
“It is crucial that all stakeholders involved in motor sport at any level make sure that safety is always top priority.”
mcroucher@thenational.ae
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
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Political flags or banners
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Bikes, skateboards or scooters
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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Simon Nadim has completed 7,000 dives.
The hardest dive in the UAE is the German U-boat 110m down off the Fujairah coast.
As a child, he loved the documentaries of Jacques Cousteau
He also led a team that discovered the long-lost portion of the Ines oil tanker.
If you are interested in diving, he runs the XR Hub Dive Centre in Fujairah
The biog
Name: Ayisha Abdulrahman Gareb
Age: 57
From: Kalba
Occupation: Mukrema, though she washes bodies without charge
Favourite things to do: Visiting patients at the hospital and give them the support they need.
Role model: Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood.
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
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Rating: 4.5/5
