Riders and vehicles faced a technical and spectacular course today

Turning point for this edition of the FenekRally. Today, Wednesday, November 19, the third stage of the rally tested riders and vehicles over a route of more than 300 km, combining links and a special stage full of challenges. The start from the scenic Kasbah Cergui in Erfoud featured a fast but demanding section, which then turned into a more technical route, alternating accelerations, natural obstacles, and off-road sections.

The heart of the stage offered spectacular dunes and real “rivers” of sand, requiring maximum focus and driving skill. After a short refueling stop, the riders tackled fast sections again, irregular stretches, and controlled-speed zones before reaching the final linkback to the Erfoud logistics base. An intense day that confirmed the talent, endurance, and determination of the competitors, delivering strong emotions until the last kilometer.

Daily classification: here’s how it went

In the third stage, among the bikes in MT1, Chilean Tomás de Gavardo (#119) claimed another victory (his third), crossing the finish line in 3h38’35”. Behind him, Frenchman Tom Deest (#101) in 3h39’32” and Spaniard Sara García (#108) in 3h52’26” completed a very tight podium, confirming an increasingly close competition. In MT2, the best time of the day went to Antonio Ubis Díaz (#132) with 4h05’09”, ahead of two Dirt Wheels teammates: Jaime Ros (#117) in 4h50’32” and Jesús Osborne (#116) in 4h58’12”.

Among the SSV T3, the victory went to the French crew Adrien Leyreloup and Patrick Jimbert (#317) in 3h44’07”, ahead of Herman/Camara (#304) in 3h48’16” and David and Laura Bord (#303) in 4h02’13”. In the T4 category, the best time was set by the Swiss duo Eric Rohner and Diego Terre (#403) in 4h13’11”, followed by Parpottas/Odink (#402) in 4h40’13” and Guillen/Mata (#411) in 4h40’43”.

T1 saw the French team Rémy Chapot and Bruno Larroquet (#214) triumph again in 4h57’43”, with a wide margin over Hardy/Osborne (#209) in 7h38’27” and Lopez/Ribas (#222) in third place. In T2, the best time went to José Guerra and Xavi Ribas (#206) in 5h12’41”, followed by Sanchez/Villar Altarejos (#213) in 5h19’15” and Leon/Lopez (#219) in 5h22’39”.

In the Overland category, the ranking is led by Ignacio Berenguer and Laura Fernández (#205), followed by Mas/Canamasas (#603) and Filippo Franzini (#602), all tied at 197 points.

Statements from the protagonists

Rémy Chapot (#214 – T1 Team Chap’s):

“Today went really well: the course was beautiful and the landscapes spectacular. The initially technical track then opened into mixed sections and some fast parts. The car performed perfectly: it’s a two-wheel drive with excellent adaptability to this terrain. It’s my first time at this rally; I came thanks to a friend who told me about it, and in the end, I decided to join him. The organization is excellent and very helpful, and the accommodation is also fantastic. The connection with my co-driver Bruno is incredible: he has experience in other Baja races, but this is his first time in the desert. Here, you learn every day and also have a lot of fun!”

Adrien Leyreloup (#317 – T3 Team Touriste):

“Today we started first in our category, and I must say it went really well for us. The course was smooth, we performed well, and no one was able to overtake us. The dunes? Fantastic! We managed to pass all the waypoints in the roadbook, a great sign for the overall ranking. Our SSV is performing wonderfully: we are very satisfied!”

Eric Rohner (#403 – T4 Team Mas Vale Tarde):

“What else can I say but that it was incredible today! First of all, the pilot-co-driver duo was (and is) fundamental: one without the other can do very little. Thanks and bravo to Diego! For us, as newcomers in this motorsport discipline, facing the dunes at the start was a bit scary, but then it became a great satisfaction. The skill of the right foot and the navigator’s precision are truly the key to success. Moments like these make you feel alive. Truly magnificent!”

Fourth stage: between dunes and off-track

Tomorrow, November 20, the fourth and penultimate stage of FenekRally 2025 promises to be exciting and demanding: 286 km in total, of which 188 km are special stage. The start is from Kasbah Cergui Hotel with 33 km of link to the start of the special stage. From there, the first two kilometers run on track, then lead into an off-track section through a “river” of sand. The adventure continues on a wide and fast track, with a hazard marked along the way.

Then riders face another off-track section on sand, followed by a more technical section with speed-controlled zones and rocky stretches full of obstacles. From km 85 to km 103, the track becomes uneven and demanding, up to the refuelling and stop scheduled at km 103. The second part of the special stage, up to km 141, alternates rocky and dangerous sections with off-track stretches and dunes, offering breathtaking landscapes and continuous challenges. The stage concludes with a transfer of 65 km back to the Erfoud logistics base, with adrenaline at its peak.