The first stage of the Rallye du Maroc has already shaken up the overall standings. The grueling 779-kilometer journey from Fez to Erfoud, of which 298 kilometers were timed over the treacherous Rekkam Plateau, proved unforgiving for both man and machine.
World champion Daniel Sanders and seasoned veteran Sébastien Loeb seized control, while other favorites like Ricky Brabec and Nasser Al-Attiyah lost ground. For the Dutch competitors, it was a mixed bag as they embarked on their Moroccan adventure.
KTM Dominates, Honda in Pursuit
It was Daniel “Chucky” Sanders who emphatically crowned himself king of the day. The freshly crowned world champion crossed the finish line first with a time of 3 hours, 4 minutes and 37 seconds, marking his fourth stage win in Morocco and his 24th rally-raid World Championship victory. Once again, he made history for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing.
His teammate Edgar Canet, officially competing in the Rally2 class, stunned the field by finishing second overall and taking a commanding lead in his own category. A KTM 1-2-3 seemed inevitable until Luciano Benavides crashed hard at kilometer 219, forced to retire with shoulder and knee injuries. The Argentine champion, who had just returned from previous injuries, saw his season end in painful fashion.
Behind the KTM duo, the four factory Hondas worked to limit the damage. Tosha Schareina kept his cool to finish fourth, narrowly ahead of teammates Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes. Brabec, winner of the prologue, struggled to find rhythm early on but fought his way back. Adrien van Beveren, still recovering from an earlier crash, showed grit once again to secure sixth place.
Promising start for Dutch riders
There were strong performances from the Dutch side too. Ian Olthof (HT Rally Raid) had a solid day, finishing 45th in the Rally2 class aboard his Honda, with clear potential for further progress in the upcoming stages. Deen Munsters, also riding for HT Rally Raid, crossed the line in 61st place.
Munsters had a good start, riding at his own pace and steadily moving forward during the first 100 km. However, around kilometer 125, he had a minor slide and lost his prosthetic leg in the process. “How it happened, I have no idea,” he shared later that evening. A small part that secured the prosthesis had come loose. Fortunately, a French rider came to his aid, allowing him to continue and finish strongly, reaching speeds of 130 km/h on the fast tracks. “All in all, a good day, and I’m really looking forward to tomorrow.”
That’s when the first dunes are on the menu, something Munsters hasn’t experienced before. “I’m curious how I’ll manage. Otherwise, I think it might turn into a tough battle. But overall, the Rallye du Maroc is proving to be a really good test.”
Loeb strikes back, Al Attiyah slips away
In the car category, it was a true comeback day for Sébastien Loeb. While his teammate at The Dacia Sandriders, Nasser Al Attiyah, stole the show in the prologue, the Qatari was forced to stop for nearly ten minutes on stage one to repair a damaged steering arm. Loeb capitalized fully, clocking the fastest time of 2h49m43s and seizing the overall lead.
At the top, the time gaps are razor thin: just 27 seconds separate Loeb from Mattias Ekström (Ford M-Sport), and another two seconds from Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing). Nani Roma, Henk Lategan, and Carlos Sainz are also within two minutes. The battle for the rally win and the world title is wide open.
Dutchies on four wheels show fight and character
Rik van den Brink and Gydo Heimans (SRT – Century CR7) delivered an excellent opening stage, finishing 25th overall in the T1+ classification. Just four minutes behind was Janus van Kasteren, who held his own admirably in his debut on four wheels. Roger Grouwels (with Rudolf Meijer) and Michiel Becx (with Wouter de Graaff) finished close together in 29th and 30th, respectively.
In the T3.1 Challenger category, Dutch crews also showed their strength. Paul Spierings (with Jan Pieter van der Stelt) brought his Rebellion Taurus home in 42nd place. Puck Klaassen, co-driving with Augusto Sanz in the G-Rally G-Ecko, placed 53rd and is well-positioned in the hunt for a T3 finish. Lex Peters and Rine Streppel, each with their own team setups, also made it to the end of this punishing stage — a promising sign ahead of tomorrow’s dunes.
Macik unstoppable, Kay Huzink best of the rest
In the truck category, Martin Macik continued his dominant streak. The Czech driver won the special with a time of 3h22m41s, a staggering 32 minutes ahead of his closest rival: Kay Huzink. The Dutchman, alongside Joël Ebbers and Martin Roesink in the hybrid Renault C460 from Kuipers Jongbloed, had a strong day, securing second place in the standings. Gert Huzink, however, ran into trouble again: the team’s second truck lost more than sixteen hours and is effectively out of contention.
SSVs and Challengers: Seaidan, Dias and Munster impress
In the Challenger class, Yasir Seaidan took a convincing stage win, ahead of Charles Munster and Dania Akeel. Seaidan has now positioned himself as a serious contender for the overall victory. In the SSVs, Joao Dias claimed the win by a narrow margin over fellow Portuguese driver Alexandre Pinto. For Dutchman Kees Koolen, competing with Jurgen van den Goorbergh in the G-Rally G-Ecko, it was a solid day: they finished 59th overall in the Challengers, with room to grow in the upcoming dune stages.
A day full of memories and expectations
The opening stage from Fez to Erfoud had it all: speed, dropouts, surprises, and a showdown between the sport’s biggest names. It took its toll, but also revealed the resilience of both rookies and veterans. American Brandon Krause, for instance, shared the story of his rally debut, supported by his father Paul, a Dakar veteran from the ‘90s. For many, this rally is more than a race; it’s a family story, a mission, a dream.
Stage 2 will loop around Erfoud, featuring a 307-kilometer special. The dunes will come into play for the first time, with two passages through the famous Erg Chebbi. According to former Dakar winner and route director Marc Coma, it will be a complete stage: sand, stones, tricky navigation, and crucial strategy. The battle for seconds has begun, and the Rallye du Maroc is only just getting started.
