The penultimate stage of the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal 2025 led the rally caravan from Badajoz in Spain back into Portugal via a 528-kilometer route, including 274 kilometers against the clock.
While some title contenders lost ground, others rose to the occasion. Daniel Sanders reclaimed the lead in RallyGP, Nasser Al Attiyah took the stage win among the cars, and Dutch competitors continued to battle on the treacherous gravel and forest roads en route to the capital.
Sanders in Pole Position for Overall Victory
Starting stage four 1’42” behind the leader, Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM) went on the attack and ended the day as the new rally leader. The Australian rode flawlessly through the hilly terrain toward Lisbon, capitalizing on a costly navigation error by rival Tosha Schareina (Honda HRC), who lost no less than 4’54” and now sits second, 3’12” behind Sanders.
The fight for third remains tight: Luciano Benavides finished just ahead of teammate Sanders and extended his lead over Ricky Brabec, now trailing by 51 seconds. Skyler Howes delivered a steady ride to fifth, both in the stage and overall standings.
Van Mechelen climbs into Rally2 top 5
Joël van Mechelen (BAS World KTM) continues to impress in Rally2. He delivered a solid, fast stage, finishing 11th overall and 5th in class, moving him into the Rally2 overall top 10. As his team summed it up: “A confident ride, pushing the pace, one last push tomorrow!”
Portugal delivers, Canet holds strong
The Portuguese riders finally had their moment to shine in Rally2. Martim Ventura (Honda HRC) won the stage, just 11 seconds ahead of compatriot Bruno Santos. For the first time in W2RC history, two Portuguese riders topped the Rally2 stage results.
Despite the home-country celebration, Edgar Canet remains the man to beat. He finished third, 1’16” behind, and retains a comfortable lead of nearly five minutes heading into the final day.
Dacia strikes back, Toyota holds the lead
After two tough days, Nasser Al Attiyah bounced back. The Qatari took the stage win in his Dacia, 2’07” ahead of teammate Sébastien Loeb. Henk Lategan (Toyota) came in third at 2’26”, just ahead of overall leader Lucas Moraes.
The battle for overall victory is fierce: Moraes maintains a slim 33-second lead over Lategan. Thanks to his strong performance, Loeb climbs to third overall (+10’42”), overtaking Carlos Sainz, who lost time after going off-route.
Klaassen & Van Mechelen impress, others power through
Pim Klaassen & Mark Laan (DaklaPack Rallysport) delivered a clean run, clocking an impressive 20th overall in their OT3. This keeps them in the upper midfield of the standings.
Other Dutch results:
- Rik van den Brink & Gydo Heimans – P42 (Century CR7, ULT)
- Richard Timmerman & Kala Senders – P43 (Toyota Hilux, ULT)
- Johan & Yvet Senders – P48 (Fiat Fullback Proto, ULT)
- Bert Mourik & Robert Voor de Poorte – P60 (Red-Lined Navarra VK56, ULT)
- Wouter Rosegaar (co-pilot with Richard Acze) – P38 (SSV)
- Arjan van Tiel (co-pilot with Vincent Thijs) – P30 (Toyota Hilux, ULT)
Despite some penalties and route neutralizations (e.g., due to wildfires), all Dutch vehicles reached the finish, a key achievement with just one day remaining.
Zoldos and Martinez Stay in Command
French all-rounder Thomas Zoldos (Beta) took his fifth consecutive stage win in Rally3, looking set for an uncontested overall victory. In the quad category, it was Gaëtan Martinez’s turn to shine with his third stage win, extending his lead over teammate Antanas Kanopkinas to more than 24 minutes.
Stage 5: The Finale Into the Heart of Lisbon
Tomorrow brings the final stage: a 287-kilometer loop, including 103 km of timed special, starting and finishing in Lisbon. It promises to be a short but treacherous finale, perfect conditions for last-minute drama in the overall standings.
