The 2025 Carta Rallye has kicked off — and how! The first stage, from Plage Blanche to Icht, covering 306 kilometers of special stage over a total distance of 492 kilometers, immediately proved to be a relentless trial for both man and machine. Fast tracks along the beach, challenging climbs in dry riverbeds, and a mix of dunes, plateaus, and treacherous camel grass turned the day into a true ordeal.
In the car category, it was Simon Vitse and Max Delfino who made a statement. Driving the Optimus from MD Rallysport, they secured the stage win with an impressive time of 3:25:06. In the SSV Open class, the competition was fierce, with Tomas Mickus and Darius Leskauskas clinching an impressive second place overall, followed by the Swiss duo Stephane and Caroline Zosso in third.
The top five was rounded out by Pelichet/Lecourbe and Lacam/Delfino, both also competing in the SSV Open class. In the 2WD category, Kacem Hamsas and Paul Duramé had a strong showing, finishing eighth overall and arriving in Icht as the fastest buggy team of the day.
Among the motorcycles, Martim Ventura was initially on top, but after processing all time penalties and bonuses, it turns out that Frenchman Benjamin Melot (class ≤450cc) won the stage. He finished with a corrected final time of 3:43:15, making him the fastest motorcyclist of the day . Martim still finished strongly in second place (3:44:28), followed by Italian Alessandro Botturi, who managed to grab third place with his Yamaha Tenere 700 Rally GYTR in the >450cc class (3:44:58).
Behind them, Gautier Paulin (P4) and Charlie Herbst (P5) also posted fast times. For Paulin it is his very first Rally Raid, but with an impressive record in motocross – including several GP wins and podium finishes in MXGP – we can certainly expect some more from him in this rally. The differences in the top five are small and promise excitement for the coming days.
Technical, demanding, and not without incident
The stage turned out to be especially technical and demanding, particularly for the bikers. The organizers even stepped in at the dunes: as a precaution, several riders were stopped and safely guided to the bivouac via asphalt roads. This decision highlighted the challenging nature of the day. Unfortunately, it didn’t end there. Among the bikers, one competitor suffered a broken collarbone, while another sustained injuries to his fingers. The opening day immediately underscored how unforgiving the Carta Rallye can be.
Mhamid Awaits!
After the grueling opening day, the participants head toward Mhamid tomorrow for the second stage, featuring 390 kilometers of special stage (493 km total) — once again, a serious challenge. The route will take them straight through the stunning yet treacherous dunes of Erg Chigaga.
From the start, the pace will be high: fast, wide tracks will set the tone, but the riders must stay sharp. Technical sections with rocks, crevasses, and off-track passages over plateaus and oueds await them. Navigation is described as “light,” but competitors shouldn’t be fooled — accuracy is crucial in the open landscape. Long stretches over schott and the mix of fast tracks and tricky dune passages around kilometer 265 promise plenty of excitement.
