The first stage of the Dakar Rally 2025 provided a clear picture of the competition. Mitchel van den Brink, Loprais, Macik, and Soltys formed a strong top four, with a 15-minute gap to the rest of the field. Tire management proved to be a critical factor, as reflected in the reports from various teams.
Mitchel van den Brink Delivers a Strong Performance
The official Dakar website praised Mitchel van den Brink as one of the rising stars in the rally world. The young driver won both the prologue and the first stage, bringing his total to four stage wins and surpassing his father, Martin. Mitchel expressed satisfaction in the bivouac in Bisha:
“We kept up a good pace and gained time through solid navigation. The route was challenging, with narrow passages and obstacles, but we finished without any damage.”


Martin van den Brink and Other Dutch Participants
Martin van den Brink finished eighth, nearly 30 minutes behind his son, partly due to a broken windshield that cost him ten minutes. Zala’s team faced technical issues, while Richard de Groot’s team managed seventh place despite a broken shock absorber. Kees Koolen dropped back due to navigation errors and flat tires but remained in the top ten. Maurik van den Heuvel placed tenth, despite losing time to a flat tire.


48-Hour Chrono Stage
The second stage introduces the first part of a 48-hour chrono stage, a format introduced last year. This stage combines endurance and speed over a thousand kilometers of desert terrain. Participants must preserve their vehicles, as no service team assistance is allowed. The route north of Bisha promises varied terrain, with approximately 100 kilometers of dunes per day and complex navigation challenges.
Provisional Top 10 After Stage 1:
- Mitchel van den Brink – 5h11m09s
- Aleš Loprais – +1:40
- Martin Macik – +2:29
- Martin Soltys – +8:18
- Vaidotas Zala – +22:27
- Claudio Bellina – +27:55
- Richard de Groot – +28:14
- Martin van den Brink – +29:15
- Kees Koolen – +31:56
- Maurik van den Heuvel – +36:44
The Dakar Rally 2025 has just begun, but the demanding routes and technical requirements already highlight that consistency and strategic thinking are essential for success.