The third stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge took participants from La’ayoune to Boujdour, covering 268 kilometers of pure adventure. Right from the start, the first 35 kilometers featured a tough series of treacherous dunes, followed by lightning-fast tracks and a long stretch of off-track terrain through camel grass, finishing with a breathtaking drive along the Atlantic coast. Despite the beauty of the landscape, it was the harsh conditions that truly made the difference. For the Dutch competitors, it turned into a day of highs and lows — but above all, a showcase of impressive performances.
Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun claim commanding win in SSV
A major Dutch success in the SSV category: Mitchel van den Brink and his co-driver Bart van Heun secured the stage victory with an impressive time of 3 hours, 16 minutes, and 9 seconds. Not only were they the fastest among the SSVs, but they even outpaced the quickest cars! “It was a beautiful day with lots of dunes, but also plenty of rocks between the dunes, which made overtaking tricky,” Mitchel explained. “Unfortunately, we had a puncture after hitting a rock, but after changing the tire, we managed to overtake many competitors. The buggy was perfect, and Bart navigated fantastically. We’re really satisfied!”
Strong performance from Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar: third place despite setbacks
Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar also delivered a strong result in the SSV class. Despite suffering two flat tires and technical issues with the jack and nut gun, they managed to limit the damage and finished the day in third place. “It was a tough day,” Erik reflected. “But the driving itself went well. I was able to keep up with Mitchel, but he didn’t make any mistakes — and that was the difference.”
Multiple Dutch crews in SSV top ten
Dutch success wasn’t limited to the front-runners. Willem Meijer and Corné Christianen secured an impressive fourth place, just behind Van Loon. Henk and Pim Klaassen piloted their Taurus to a strong tenth place. Jan van Gerven and Caspar Schellekens (ninth) and Erik Wevers and Floor Maten (fifth) also drove solid stages, proving that the Netherlands is well represented in this class.
Motorbikes: Gerben Lieverdink pushes through
In the motorbike category, Gerben Lieverdink faced a tough day but still managed to finish 15th, just under an hour behind stage winner Arnau Lledo. Lieverdink continues to show that he’s holding his own in the competitive bike field.
Trucks: bad luck for Martin van den Brink, but Huzink takes the win
In the truck category, the day started promisingly for Martin van den Brink, but a problem with the steering pump dashed his hopes. “We lost all steering,” said Martin. “We had to connect the lines manually, which cost us about half an hour.” Despite the setback, he still managed to reach the finish line.
It was ultimately Kay Huzink who claimed the stage win with his Renault truck, finishing ahead of his uncle Gert Huzink and Egbert Wingens.
Looking ahead to Stage 4: the monster stage to Smara
Tomorrow, participants face a true test of endurance: the journey from Boujdour to Smara covers a staggering 550 kilometers, with 526 kilometers of special stage. It will be the longest stage of this edition, taking the rally caravan deeper into the Moroccan Sahara than ever before.
After a short 25-kilometer liaison, competitors will enter a stunning dirt track that gradually transforms into an endless canyon. A breathtaking, otherworldly landscape unfolds, but it is crucial to stay close to the edge of the chott — straying too far risks getting trapped in mud and quicksand. This unique section stretches for about 40 kilometers.
The stage is tailor-made for the speed demons, with long, fast sections ideal for the T1 and T1+ cars. But make no mistake: navigation will be challenging, the soft sand areas treacherous, and fuel management absolutely critical. In short, everything is set for a heroic day in the desert!
