After the grueling opening leg from Fez to Erfoud, Stage 2 of the 2025 Rallye du Maroc presented a whole new challenge: a punishing 394-kilometer loop around Erfoud, including 307 kilometers of special stage that forced competitors to cross the feared Erg Chebbi dunes not once, but twice.
While some title contenders revived their hopes, others were mercilessly pushed back. The Dutch also made their presence felt, from quiet determination to headline-grabbing victory.
Schareina and Brabec rule the dunes, Sanders gasps for air
In the bike category, it was all about the Monster Energy Honda HRC riders. Spaniard Tosha Schareina delivered a stunning performance, making the decisive move during the first crossing of the Merzouga dunes. “Much better than yesterday,” he stated at the finish. His teammate Ricky Brabec followed just over two minutes behind. Daniel Sanders, winner of Stage 1, crossed the line in third after a rough day full of navigation errors and a painful hit to his nav tower. Despite the setbacks, the Australian clings to the overall lead, but his margin over Schareina has shrunk to just 43 seconds.
In Rally2, South African rider Michael Docherty (BAS World KTM) claimed his second stage win of the rally, beating Konrad Dabrowski and Tobias Ebster. Edgar Canet, who finished second overall yesterday, lost ground but still leads the category standings. Rally3 saw heartbreak for Noa Sainct, who suffered a melted mousse and missed waypoints, incurring a staggering one hour and fifteen minutes in penalties and with that, lost the class lead.
Al Attiyah Fights Back, Roma Takes the Lead
In the car category, Nasser Al Attiyah bounced back strongly after his misfortune on Day 1. Starting from the back, the Qatari even stopped mid-stage to assist a fallen motorcycle rider, and still managed to win the stage. The victory drastically cut his deficit in the overall standings. However, it wasn’t enough to retake the rally lead, which passed to Nani Roma, who finished second in his Ford M-Sport and capitalized on time losses by Sébastien Loeb and Mattias Ekström.
Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) limited the damage and now sits second overall, 47 seconds behind Roma. Title hopeful Henk Lategan had a disastrous day: his rear differential gave out, forcing him to continue in two-wheel drive — costing him more than an hour in the dunes. “A nightmare,” said the South African, whose title dreams are now under heavy threat.
Dutch Glory: Puck Klaassen Makes History
A historic moment unfolded in the Challenger class. Puck Klaassen, racing for G Rally and of Dutch descent, made history by becoming the first woman this week to win a stage in her category. She held off Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and benefitted from late-stage trouble for Khalifa Al Attiyah, who broke down just six kilometers from the finish.
“This really is something special,” Klaassen said upon arrival at the bivouac. “We found a great rhythm, and the dunes really suited me. Of course, the rally isn’t over yet — but this one is definitely going in the books.”
And the Dutch success didn’t stop there. In the truck category, Gert Huzink broke Martin Macik’s winning streak with an impressive victory aboard the hybrid Renault truck of the Kuipers-Jongbloed team. Macik still holds the overall lead.
Other Dutch Highlights: Grit, Struggles, and Survival
Among the bikes, Ian Olthof (HT Rally Raid) rode a composed stage, finishing 40th in Rally2 — still the top-ranked Dutch rider in the toughest motorcycle class and steadily gaining Dakar experience.
His teammate Deen Munsters was hit by bad luck again, after already losing his prosthetic leg in Stage 1. This time, he posted a time of 7h58m27s, placing 68th in Rally2. But his determination remains unshaken: “Stage 2, brutal dunes! But a great experience, a real rally stage compared to Dakar. Funny thing: I hit a top speed of 159 km/h!” Munsters shared on social media.
In the T1+ car category, Rik van den Brink endured a difficult day. He lost over an hour and a half and dropped in the standings, but made it to the finish — crucial with Dakar qualification in mind. Roger Grouwels, competing with Rudolf Meijer for Shiver Offroad, managed to keep their Century buggy within the top 25 despite some time loss. Michiel Becx and Maik Willems also reached the bivouac, albeit with significant delays due to technical issues. For Mike van Eikeren and navigator Jasper Riezebos, it was all about perseverance; they made it to the finish despite receiving a major penalty.
Former motorcycle rider Paul Spierings also impressed. Now competing in the Challenger class, he completed the stage cleanly in the Rebellion-Spierings Taurus buggy, proving his versatility as a rally driver.
World Championship battle intensifies
With three stages to go, the fight for the W2RC world title is heating up. Al Attiyah gained five points with his stage win, while Moraes earned three, extending the Qatari’s lead in the championship standings to nine points. Lategan appears to be out of the race for now. Every position will matter in the coming days, especially with the new “Power Selective Section” at the end of the rally offering bonus points.
Stage 3 Preview: Merzouga, Round Two
Tomorrow’s Stage 3 will once again start and finish in Erfoud. The 323-kilometer special stage will cut through the Merzouga dunes once more, featuring a technical opening and a high-speed finale. “This is the kind of day where anything can happen,” warned race director Marc Coma. “One small mistake could cost you dozens of minutes.”
