The fourth stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge took the competitors from Boujdour to Smara. With a staggering 528 kilometres on the agenda, of which 526 were special stage, it turned into a true test of endurance. Never before had the rally ventured so far south into the Moroccan Sahara, and the participants were treated to an unforgettable stage. From stunning gorges to treacherous chott filled with mud and quicksand, the route demanded the utmost from both man and machine. Despite the long straight sections and high speeds, navigation remained crucial, and fuel management proved to be a decisive factor.
SSV: Van den Brink and Van Loon at the front of the field
It was a successful day for the Dutch teams in the SSV class. Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun drove a strong stage and sent their Can-Am to a handsome second place, just 5 minutes and 38 seconds from the winner. “We drove especially hard and made a small gap on the technical sections,” Mitchel commented with satisfaction.
Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar kept a good pace despite setbacks. “This was the most boring test ever,” Erik said afterwards. “We actually drove 526 kilometers full throttle. All the T1+ cars passed us, so we had some dust left and right. At the end we noticed that one wheel was a little crooked, so we took back a little gas.” Despite that problem, they finished just two minutes behind Mitchel van den Brink, keeping them well in the lead. Due to a four-minute time penalty for overspeeding, they did lose some time and are currently eighth in the overall standings.
- Lex Peters & Mark Salomons (Arcane)
- Mitchel van den Brink & Bart van Heun (Can-Am)
- Oscar Ral Verdu & Xavi Blanco Garcia (Taurus)
Cars: Janus van Kasteren cracks the top five
In the car category, Janus van Kasteren and Marcel Snijders kept the Dutch flag flying high with a fifth-place finish, just over 15 minutes behind the winner. Mike van Eikeren and Jasper Riezebos also performed well, securing seventh place. The Dutch crews remain firmly in the fight for top positions.
- Simon Vitse & Martin Bonnet (MD Rallye Sport)
- Agostino Rizzardi & Claudio Fenati (Century)
- Christian Femont & Christophe Van Dessel (MD Rallye Sport)
Trucks: Huzink Leads the Pack, Van den Brink Fights On
In the truck category, it was once again Gert Huzink who set the pace. He won the stage and strengthened his lead in the overall standings. His nephew, Kay Huzink, finished second, while Martin van den Brink and his crew clocked the third-fastest time despite suffering a broken shock absorber. “We had to drive a bit more cautiously to make it to the finish,” Martin said afterwards. “But we made it, and that’s what matters.”
- Gert Huzink, Hugo Robert Henri Kupper & Mario Kress (Renault)
- Kay Huzink, Joël Ebbers & Martin Roesink (Renault)
- Martin van den Brink, Peter Willemsen & Erwin van Voskuilen (Iveco)
Bikes: Lieverdink holds his ground
Among the bikes, Gerben Lieverdink was once again the best-placed Dutch rider. He brought his KTM home in 12th place for the day, around 50 minutes behind the winner, Arnau Lledo. On the demanding terrain, Lieverdink managed to hold his own remarkably well, continuing to gain valuable experience at the sharp end of the rally.
- Arnau Lledo (KTM)
- Nicolas Horeaux (KTM)
- Julien Stas (KTM)
Preview of Stage Five
Tomorrow, the competitors will tackle the stage from Smara to Assa, covering a varied 375 kilometres. Participants can expect a beautiful mix of sand, fesh fesh, gravel, stones, and vast open plains. In particular, the infamous “Piste Africaine” promises plenty of action, with sharp rocks, deep ruts, and deceptive obstacles. Navigation and tactical driving will once again be of crucial importance before reaching the finish in the breathtaking desert landscape of Assa.
