Dutch rider Maarten Buitenhuis is once again on the starting line of the iconic L’Oasis Rally, this time with a modified version of his fully electric Arctic Leopard. After a strong performance in the prologue (Stage 0), where he finished second with just 2.4 penalty points behind the leader, his rally adventure took an unexpected turn during Stage 1.
Technology and innovation as his weapons
For this edition, Buitenhuis started the rally with four batteries and a modified frame, specially designed to allow faster and more efficient battery swaps. This fully aligns with his mission to prove that electric vehicles are not only sustainable but also competitive under the toughest rally conditions.
“We were back at the start of L’Oasis yesterday with the Arctic Leopard!” Buitenhuis reported. “This time with 4 batteries and a modified frame to enable quick swaps. Unfortunately, some technical issues caused us to miss the start by over an hour.”
Stage 1: From unlucky start to determined finisher
The technical problems were a significant setback: Buitenhuis was only able to depart more than an hour after the official start time. Despite the disadvantage, he managed to complete the stage, which still secured him a respectable third place in the provisional standings, with a total penalty score of 229.32. While significantly higher than his prologue score, it kept him well ahead of the backmarkers.
Stage 2: A strong comeback
In Stage 2, Buitenhuis once again impressed. With a time penalty of 154.29 minutes and 45 sporting penalty points, he ended with a total of 199.29 – good enough for fourth place in the stage. Once again, he outperformed several conventional motorcycles, including Joineau’s Suzuki 650 and the Yamahas of Pons and Derossi. His gap to stage winner Ludovic Lepagnot was 70.16 points – a notable improvement over the previous stage.
In a rally where mechanical reliability is just as crucial as speed, Buitenhuis once again demonstrates his resilience and the potential of his electric rally machine.
About the L’Oasis Rally
The L’Oasis Rally – officially L’Oasis L’Original – is an annual rally raid through the Moroccan desert, known for its mix of navigation challenges, technical sections, and vast dune fields. The rally attracts adventurers from across Europe looking to experience the legendary Dakar spirit in an accessible yet demanding setting. Participants compete in various categories: from motorcycles to classic 4x4s, and even electric vehicles like Maarten Buitenhuis’ Arctic Leopard.
A new benchmark
The Arctic Leopard team has clearly made major strides this year. The adapted frame and four swappable batteries give Maarten strategic flexibility – a crucial advantage in a rally where time and reliability are everything.
