The Greece Rally 2025 has come to an end after a thrilling week filled with dust, rocks, and steep mountain passes. Starting from the Elpida Resort & Spa in Serres, competitors covered over 1500 rally kilometers across the rugged terrain of northern Greece and even crossed into Bulgaria.
Big names like Stefan Svitko (SVK), Roberto Barbieri (ITA), and Hans Kristian Dovland (NOR) battled for podium positions in the motorcycle category, but the Dutch riders were also out in force and with great success. Especially in the Side-by-Side (SSV) class, the Dutch orange colors were dominantly represented.
Spectacular Landscapes of Northern Greece and Bulgaria
The Greece Rally 2025 led participants through seven days of spectacular scenery in northern Greece and Bulgaria. Each stage brought its own challenges and character. Day 1 began with a short but sharp prologue near Eleonas, featuring fast sections and tricky navigation. Slovakian rider Stefan Svitko set the fastest time, immediately establishing his dominance. Day 2 followed with the grueling Lailias Classic, a 285 km stage through dense forests and steep mountain trails. It turned into a physically exhausting day, but the Dutch riders held their ground. Days 3 and 4 formed the marathon stage: a two-day journey without mechanical assistance, crossing into Bulgaria and back. Navigation, endurance, and riding technique were crucial on the difficult mountain trails of the Belasitsa range.
Day 5 brought riders to the legendary Bosdakas Crossing, shorter but extremely technical, over rocky riverbeds and narrow paths. Here, Dutch SSV teams shone with multiple top finishes. On Day 6, the longest stage at 375 km, speed, focus, and reliability were key. Versteijnen and Van Limpt claimed the stage victory in the SSV category during the Sidirokastro Special. The rally concluded on Day 7 with the impressive Golden Mountain stage: a fast yet demanding route through the Vertiskos and Krousia mountain ranges. The final differences were made here before the rally caravan returned to Serres for the festive award ceremony.
Dutch riders in the bike category
The Dutch motorcyclists were well-represented through the MEMO Tours Rally Team, supplemented by several privateers. Riders such as Dennis Schans, Ard Vermeulen, Lodie Boelhouwer, and Edwin Bullee frequently appeared in the stage rankings, taking on world-class opponents like Svitko and Barbieri—both multiple-time winners of this rally.
Full list of Dutch riders:
| Naam | Team | Motor |
|---|---|---|
| Dennis Schans | Memo Tours Team | Husqvarna FE 350 |
| Ard Vermeulen | Memo Tours Team | KTM 500 EXC |
| Lodie Boelhouwer | Memo Tours Team | KTM 350 EXC |
| Edwin Bullee | Riding Adventures | KTM 450 |
| Imar Verdouw | Husqvarna FE 450 | |
| Bart van der Spoel | moto4all | Sherco SEFR 300 |
| Ruben van der Vlis | Riding Adventures | KTM 1290 Adventure R |
| Eric Twellaar | Memo Tours Team | Husqvarna FE 501 |
| Nico Dekker | Memo Tours Team | Husqvarna FE 350 |
| Cees Bijl | Memo Tours Team | Beta RR 390 |
| Ralph Edelstein | Memo Tours Team | Husqvarna FE 350 |
| Gerben Timmer | moto4all | Kove 450 |
| Jaap Martens | Memo Tours Team | KTM 350 EXC |
| Robbert Plarina | Memo Tours Team | KTM 450 EXC |
| Henk Nijmeijer | Memo Tours Team | KTM 450 EXC |
| Wilfred Barenbrug | Memo Tours Team | Beta 430 Rally |
| Robin van Bemmel | Memo Tours Team | KTM 300 EXC |
| Kai van Zandbeek | Memo Tours Team | Gas Gas ES 700 |
| Niels Verweij | Riding Adventures | KTM 450 |
| Dave Ouwehand | Riding Adventures | KTM 1290 Adventure R |
| Bart Combee | moto4all | Polaris Scrambler |
| Nico Keijzer | Riding Adventures | Husqvarna FE 350 |
| Mike Postma | Riding Adventures | Husqvarna 701 |
| Freek van Gestel | moto4all | Yamaha YFZ 450 R (sportquad) |
In particular, Dennis Schans proved to be a consistent top-30 rider despite the tough conditions. Ard Vermeulen also had a strong rally on his KTM 500 EXC, frequently finishing just behind the international front-runners.
Slovak rider Stefan Svitko secured his sixth win in Serres, dominating almost every day. Barbieri remained close with a string of second-place finishes, while Dovland quietly worked his way onto the podium.
Final Standings – Motorcycles (Top 3)
- Stefan Svitko (SVK) – KTM 450 Rally
- Roberto Barbieri (ITA) – Husqvarna FE501
- Hans Kristian Dovland (NOR) – BETA 390
Dutch podium party in the SSVs
While the motorcycle riders performed well, the real Dutch party was in the Side-by-Side (SSV) class. The final stage podiums were completely orange, with an impressive series of performances by Dutch SSV teams.
On the final day, Kees Box and Kees Box Jr. claimed victory with their Can-Am Maverick X3. One day earlier, Jasper Versteijnen and Jelle van Limpt clocked the fastest time and were honored as stage winners. Throughout the rally, Jan van Gerven and Rudolf Meijer also showed a strong and consistent pace, frequently placing in the top three.
All Dutch SSV crews:
| Naam | Team | SSV |
|---|---|---|
| Jasper Versteijnen / Jelle van Limpt | QFF Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Jan van Gerven / Rudolf Meijer | ROCA Rallyteam | Can-Am Maverick R |
| Kees Box / Kees Box Jr. | QFF Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Carlo Heezen / Roy van der Zanden | QFF Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Dick van Culenborg / Nicolaas Zoontjens | DVC Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Jan van Mourik / Yasper Dickerscheid | Go Slow Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Coen Nooijen / Tijs Dijk | De Run Trading / ERF | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Harrie Empel / Beau Empel | De Run Trading / ERF | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Stefan Dijk / Ralf Dijk | De Run Trading / ERF | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Dirk Garvelink / Pim Garvelink | QFF Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Andre Thewessen / Mayk Thewessen | ATS Rally | Can-Am Maverick R |
| Rob van Horssen / Carlo Spreeuwenberg | ROCA Rallyteam | Can-Am Maverick R |
| Max van Empel / Sem van Empel | De Run Trading / ERF | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
| Richard van Oevelen / Gertjan Rigter | NMNH Racing | Can-Am Maverick X3 |
Versteijnen & Van Limpt dominated Stage 6, showing their Can-Am was perfectly tuned for the fast, forested terrain towards Halkidiki. Young Kees Box Jr., navigating alongside his father, clinched the final stage win—an incredible reward after a week of strategic driving and navigation.
ATS Rally’s Andre and Mayk Thewessen also had a strong showing. In their debrief, they described the event as an “adventurous rally where we could thoroughly test and tune our new Can-Am R.” Notably, Mayk took the wheel for two specials, allowing the team to gain experience with driver/co-driver role changes.
Father and son Dijk, racing for De Run Trading, had a fantastic experience: “The final two stages were probably the best of the whole rally. Fast, technical, and with perfect teamwork inside the buggy.”
Final Standings – SSVs (Top 3)
- Jasper Versteijnen / Jelle van Limpt (NED) – Can-Am Maverick X3
- Jan van Gerven / Rudolf Meijer (NED) – Can-Am Maverick R
- Nikola Hristov / Nedko Kolev Hristov (BUL) – Can-Am Maverick X3
Solo on the Quad
In the quad category, the only Dutch representative was Bart van Aaken, racing for QFF Racing with a Polaris Scrambler XP 1000 S. As the sole Dutch quad rider, Van Aaken delivered a consistent performance throughout the rally, tackling the tough terrain of northern Greece and the marathon stage in Bulgaria on four wheels.
RallyTracks Conclusion
The Greece Rally 2025 once again proved to be one of the toughest—and most beautiful—rallies in Europe. For the Dutch contingent, it was a week filled with highlights: in the motorcycle category, they showed incredible perseverance, while in the SSVs, they completely dominated the field.
