Stage 3 of the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal 2025 was one for the books. With a fully Spanish loop of 511 kilometres, including 308 km against the clock, the terrain around Badajoz was at its finest: fast, technical, and treacherous.
The day delivered revenge, drama, and millisecond-level battles, with Tosha Schareina and Sébastien Loeb emerging as the big winners. The Dutch competitors once again made themselves heard, though the stage also brought its fair share of frustrations.
Schareina Reclaims Spanish Soil
After losing by just four seconds in Stage 2, Tosha Schareina (Honda HRC) delivered a masterclass to bounce back in style. His victory, his first since Abu Dhabi, also earned him the overall lead from Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM), who had to concede 3′18″ today. The Spaniard now holds a 1′42″ advantage and will be first out of the blocks tomorrow on the road to Lisbon.
Behind them, Luciano Benavides and Ricky Brabec engaged in a fierce fight for third place, now separated by just ten seconds in the overall standings. Skyler Howes managed to hold on to his Honda despite some navigational issues, securing P5 for the day.
Joël van Mechelen (BAS World KTM) delivered his strongest stage performance so far. He finished 19th overall and 11th in Rally2, despite the blistering Spanish pace and some mechanical caution. In the general classification, he’s inching closer to a top-10 position.
Canet Fastest Again, But Only Just
Once again, Edgar Canet (Red Bull KTM) crossed the line first, although this time, he had a little help. Bruno Santos, the day’s quickest rider, received a time penalty for speeding. Michael Docherty (BAS World KTM) finished third, 2’20” behind Canet. The Spaniard now extends his lead in Rally2 to almost six minutes.
Loeb Takes the Stage, Moraes Grabs the Lead
A fired-up Sébastien Loeb (Dacia) claimed his 22nd World Championship stage win with a bold attack on the Spanish tracks. He edged out Henk Lategan (Toyota) by 33 seconds, with Lucas Moraes taking third. Thanks to this result, Moraes now takes over the FIA overall lead, the third different leader in three days!
Carlos Sainz came home seventh, while Nasser Al Attiyah finished 23rd after more issues with his Dacia. The fight for the overall podium remains wide open, with two stages to go.
Dutch Crews Push Forward
It was another tough but encouraging day for the Dutch teams, who continue to show progress and determination. Dutch results on Stage 3:
- Rik van den Brink & Gydo Heimans – P41 (Century CR7, ULT)
- Johan & Yvet Senders – P45 (Fiat Fullback Proto, ULT)
- Richard Timmerman & Kala Senders – P46 (Toyota Hilux, ULT)
- Bert Mourik & Robert Voor de Poorte – P59 (Red-Lined VK56, ULT)
- Arjan van Tiel (co-pilot of Vincent Thijs) – P37 (Toyota Hilux, ULT)
- Wouter Rosegaar (co-pilot of Richard Aczel, GBR) – P60 (SSV, South Racing Can-Am)
DaklaPack Rallysport: Fast Stage, Delayed Result
Pim Klaassen & Mark Laan delivered a clean and fast stage in their Taurus Challenger. However, a wildfire-triggered time neutralisation means their official result is still provisional. For now, they are listed P51 overall for the stage, but the team expects a time adjustment. In the general classification, they continue to battle in the upper midfield of the Challenger category.
Zoldos and Kanopkinas Take Their Moment
In Rally3, Thomas Zoldos (Beta) made it four wins in a row and extended his lead to over an hour. Among the quads, Antanas Kanopkinas got the better of teammate Martinez, significantly reducing the gap in the standings.
Stage 4: Crossing Borders to Lisbon
Tomorrow, the rally heads back into Portuguese territory. The 528 km stage includes 274 km of special and finishes on the Atlantic coast in Lisbon. A warm welcome awaits, but first, the field must survive another technically demanding challenge. The fight for the podium is wide open, both in the bikes and in the cars.
