Erik and Anja van Loon will conclude their international rally season this weekend with the Dubai International Baja. They will once again get behind the wheel of their South Racing Can-Am Maverick R for the final major challenge of 2025. After the Baja in Qatar, where bad luck prevailed, they are looking forward to this Baja.
Erik will drive with navigator Wouter Rosegaar and has clear ambitions. “We’re really looking forward to it. Hopefully, Wouter is fully fit again, and we can aim for the podium. It will be tough because the competition is strong. But if things go our way for once, it could happen,” says Erik. “We’ve had quite a bit of bad luck this season, but we’ve definitely shown that our speed is there. So we’re going for it, and hopefully, we’ll get the reward we deserve.”
Anja will once again drive with Floor Maten as her navigator and has her own goals. “In Qatar, we drove well but had bad luck. I did finish, and that’s what matters most to me. I’ve always reached the finish, and I want to do that again in Dubai. The dunes can sometimes make you feel seasick, so hopefully, I’ll be spared from that and we can just focus on driving.”
The rally starts on Thursday with administrative checks and inspections. On Friday, November 21, a short prologue is scheduled in Hatta, followed by the ceremonial start at Dubai Festival City Mall. The competition then features two stages in the desert around Al Qudra. The first stage on Saturday, November 22, is 195 kilometers long, and the second stage on Sunday, November 23, is also 195 kilometers. Both stages include five short neutralizations.
