The fourth day of the 2025 Fenix Rally was all about speed, precision, and endurance. Competitors were presented with a fast 380-kilometre special, featuring sweeping tracks and tricky fesh-fesh sections that tested both equipment and concentration. For many teams, it was the perfect opportunity to go full throttle. For others, it became a day of recovery, searching for rhythm, or simply survival.
Rainbow Truck Team delivers
In the truck category, the Dutch Rainbow Truck Team delivered another impressive performance. Gerrit Zuurmond, Tjeerd van Ballegooij, and Klaas Kwakkel overcame a flat tire and a wrong turn to end the day as the fastest truck crew. Their time of 5:31:12.39 gave them a lead of over twelve minutes on the German Tatra crew of Heuer, Tum, and Richter – strengthening their hold on the overall lead.
One moment stood out in particular: the team stopped mid-stage to assist an overturned SSV – a decision that could have jeopardised their standing but exemplified their sportsmanship. The bumper issues from the previous day appear to be resolved, and the team continues to follow their consistent and clever strategy: don’t overdo it, but always deliver.
Thijs and Van Tiel just missed out on a stage win
In the Open class for cars, Vincent Thijs and his Dutch navigator Arjan van Tiel had a strong day. They pushed their Toyota Hilux to a second-place finish, just 2 minutes and 40 seconds behind Italy’s Rizzardi and Fenati in their Porsche CR6T.
After the stage, Van Tiel was full of praise for their rally weapon: “The Hilux is a purebred race machine. It really comes into its own on fast, winding tracks like these. We were able to push without any issues.” According to their own analysis, they were fighting hard for the stage win. A possibly missed waypoint remains in question, but their form is clearly on the rise.
Dutch colours are well represented
Stage 4 also saw other Dutch teams making their mark. In the SSV category, Edwin Opstelten and Henny van Kouwen from EDDS Thundercamels put in an excellent performance, securing second place in the day’s standings. They finished just 1 minute and 43 seconds behind the Slovakian winners Varga and Schneider – proving their Can-Am Maverick X3 is well suited for high-speed specials.
Arjan Donders and Edwin Vloemans came in 17th, while Greenteam Panhuyzen, with Jori and Tom Panhuyzen, finished 29th despite receiving a time penalty for speeding. Jan Wilzing and his Czech co-driver Jaroslav Kosan crossed the line in 30th.
The day ended in disappointment for another Thundercamels duo: Marco van Heugten and Michelle Opstelten did not make it to the finish. The same fate befell Mike Panhuyzen, Bert van Loon, and Pieter Kuypers in the Greenteam Panhuyzen truck – listed as DNF.
The second Dutch truck entry, Lankveld Rally Team, had a more stable outing. Franciscus van Lankveld, Pieter van de Sande, and Roel van Lankveld finished in fourth truck, though they lost significant time and were handed a 20-minute penalty. Nevertheless, they remain in contention and continue to hold their own in the demanding field.
Shifts in the overall standings
The stage win in the motorcycle class went to France’s Nguyen Khoa Duong, who kept a comfortable lead over Sokolovski on his KTM EXC. In the ATV category, Kanopkinas extended his dominance, trailed closely by teammate Martinez. The SSV stage was won by Varga and Schneider, followed closely by the Dutch pair Opstelten and Van Kouwen – a strong result.
In the Open class for cars, Rizzardi continues to set the benchmark, but with Thijs and Van Tiel just minutes behind, the race is far from over. In the truck category, the Rainbow Truck Team now seems undeniably dominant – though at this stage, mechanical reliability remains crucial.
Rally approaches the turning point
With four stages completed and three still to go, the rally now nears its return leg toward Monastir. The route remains demanding, with more dunes, technical sections, and long liaison stretches still ahead.
For the Dutch competitors, the odds look promising. They are firmly in the hunt for podium positions, and the pace is high. At the same time, the guiding principles remain clear: take care of the equipment, stay sharp in navigation, and remain mentally focused. The Fenix Rally is only won at the finish line – and several hundred kilometres of desert still stand in the way.
