Stage 3 of the 2025 Rallye du Maroc delivered another day of drama and desert challenges around Erfoud. With 323 kilometers of special stage filled with sand, fesh fesh, tricky oueds and technical navigation, it was a day that left no room for mistakes.
While front-runners like Tosha Schareina and Sébastien Loeb showcased their class, the Dutch competitors also put on a performance to remember, from podium finishes to inspiring personal stories.
Schareina flawless again, Sanders holds the lead
Tosha Schareina once again underlined his skill in the bike category. The Honda rider started the stage as first on the road, opened the stage from start to finish, and held off a charging Daniel Sanders to take his second consecutive stage win. “My mission was to open from the beginning to the end, and we did it. I’m really happy with that,” said the Spaniard. Thanks to the time bonuses awarded for opening the stage, he gained exactly five seconds on Sanders, who finished second and retained the overall lead, now just 38 seconds ahead.
In Rally2, Michael Docherty of BAS World KTM claimed another stage victory despite navigation equipment issues. Edgar Canet lost over four minutes, shrinking his overall lead to just 40 seconds. In Rally3, Noa Sainct bounced back in style after a disastrous second stage. With nearly 47 minutes gained on leader Thomas Zoldos, he slashed his overall deficit to under 40 minutes.
Loeb reclaims the lead, Lategan finds redemption
In the car category, the Dacia team’s streak of stage wins came to an end — but not their success. After a troubled day 2, both Henk Lategan and Seth Quintero stormed back, finishing first and second, respectively. Sébastien Loeb claimed third on the stage, which was enough to retake the overall lead in the rally.
Loeb, who started the day in fourth place, delivered a smart, steady drive to regain the top spot. “A difficult stage, with some nasty sections and tricky navigation. Sometimes I was just driving alone, unsure where the others had gone,” the Frenchman admitted. Nasser Al Attiyah finished fourth and is now only four minutes behind title rival Lucas Moraes, who dropped to ninth on the day.
Paul Spierings steps onto the podium, Klaassen holds strong
In the Challenger class, it was another standout day for the Netherlands. Former motorcycle rider Paul Spierings from Oss clinched second place, just 2 minutes and 20 seconds behind winner Dania Akeel, his first podium in the category and once again behind a woman.
Puck Klaassen, winner of stage 2, had a solid day and finished sixth. She now holds third place overall, just six minutes behind new leader Pau Navarro. “It was a tough one today,” Klaassen commented. “But we made it to the finish without issues, and on days like this, that’s more important than attacking.”
Kees Koolen and Jurgen van den Goorbergh, competing in their G-Ecko buggy, also completed the stage in style, placing tenth in the Challenger day results.
Huzink loses ground in the trucks
In the truck category, Martin Macik reasserted his dominance with a commanding stage win, increasing his overall lead. Gert Huzink, yesterday’s stage winner, finished second, more than fifteen minutes behind the Czech. Nevertheless, Huzink and his crew, navigator Hugo Kupper and engineer Mario Kress, remain in contention for a podium finish with their hybrid Renault truck. Kay Huzink had a tougher day but successfully reached the bivouac in Erfoud without major problems.
Grit, survival and experience: the Dutch keep going
A wide group of Dutch crews managed to complete the grueling third stage. Janus van Kasteren (Shiver Offroad) recorded a solid run, finishing 26th overall. Michiel Becx, who lost time on stage 2, completed the day despite a hefty time penalty. Rik van den Brink (SRT), Roger Grouwels (Shiver Offroad), Mike van Eikeren, Maik Willems, and the duo Lex Peters & Mark Salomons (Arcane Racing) all made it back to the bivouac. Proof of determination in harsh and dusty conditions.
For some teams, the focus is now on building experience towards Dakar. For others, the standings are still very much in play. In the Challenger class, Rine Streppel & Lisette Bakker (Arcane Racing) also made it to the end, despite a day filled with obstacles. Their perseverance represents the strong spirit of the Dutch rally raid contingent.
Deen Munsters: pushing beyond limits
A special mention goes to motorcycle rider Deen Munsters, who continues to finish each stage aboard his specially adapted Honda from HT Rally Raid, designed for use with his prosthetic leg. Today, he completed the stage in 6h47m54s, maintaining his spot in the Rally2 standings.
His story, losing his leg at sixteen in a moped crash, and now chasing his Dakar dream, drew extra attention in the bivouac today. “My handicap doesn’t really affect the riding itself, but physically it’s tough,” Deen said. “When I get home, I’ll probably need a few days in a wheelchair to let the stump recover. But I’m not giving up.” Earlier in the rally, he even experienced a crash in which his prosthetic came off mid-stage, yet returned the next day to deliver one of his best performances in the dunes.
Looking ahead to Stage 4: on to Djebel Zireg
Tomorrow’s stage covers 379 kilometers, with 284 timed kilometers of special stage. Route director Marc Coma describes it as “the most beautiful stage of the rally,” with fast sand, technical zones, and small dune cordons. A visual highlight, and one that could once again shake up the standings.
