The 2025 edition of the Fenix Rally has kicked off in serious fashion. No warm-up or prologue, but straight into a tough first stage featuring a 104-kilometer special, followed by a 200-kilometer liaison. Held for the fifth time in the Tunisian desert, the rally wasted no time in challenging the competitors with narrow tracks, riverbeds, technical gravel sections, and even early crashes involving other teams. For many, it was a clear wake-up call: this compact rally means business from day one.
Known names set the pace
In the SSV category, French duo Hugues Lacam and Delphine Delfino set the fastest time of the day, completing the special in 1:02:52.93. Close behind were Slovak competitors Juraj Varga and Radovan Schneider in their Polaris RZR Pro R. Among the cars, Dutchman Arjan van Tiel and his Belgian co-driver Vincent Thijs stunned the field by claiming first place in the Open class with their Toyota Hilux, ahead of competitors such as Belgian singer and seasoned rally driver Koen Wauters and Polish team Zajac/Czekan. In the truck category, the German crew Heuer/Tum/Richter took the stage win in their Tatra 815, but the Dutch Rainbow Truck Team finished a very close second, just 2 minutes and 50 seconds off the lead.
Strong Dutch presence on stage one
The Dutch presence in this year’s Fenix Rally is impressive, with six teams spread across different categories. Their opening day saw both strong performances and early lessons.
Arjan van Tiel and Vincent Thijs had a strong start in the car class. Despite an early setback with their digital roadbook remote malfunctioning, they managed to stay focused. “We made a few mistakes due to the distraction, but overall, we drove well,” said Van Tiel. Their time of 1:08:46.10 was good enough to secure the stage win in their class.
The Rainbow Truck Team, with Gerrit Zuurmond, Tjeerd van Ballegooij, and Klaas Kwakkel, started as the fifth truck on the road but climbed to second place by the end of the stage. The trio drove a consistent leg through the varied terrain without major issues. “A fun first stage,” reported Tjeerd. “Narrow, technical, already some buggies rolled over, but we made it in safely.” Due to severe weather in the region, the bivouac was relocated to Tozeur, forcing the support crews to adapt quickly.
In the SSV class, three Dutch crews took to the course. Edwin Opstelten and Henny van Kouwen impressed for EDDS Thundercamels, clocking the fifth-fastest time of the day in their class. Arjan Donders and Edwin Vloemans had a steady run, finishing 24th, while Jori and Tom Panhuyzen ended the day in 22nd position despite being handed a time penalty and an overspeed infringement.
GreenTeam Panhuyzen in the truck class had an uneventful first day. Mike Panhuyzen, Bert van Loon, and Pieter Kuypers were given a DNS after gearbox problems. A rough start, but it’s still too early to determine what this means for their further rally.
Roadbook adjustments due to weather
Heavy storms in the days leading up to the rally forced the organization to make several route changes. The original bivouac in Douz was replaced with one in Tozeur, altering the rally’s logistical start. Nevertheless, the organizers delivered a varied and demanding opening stage that immediately separated the contenders from the rest.
Looking ahead to stage two
The coming stages promise more sand, longer specials, and the first real dune challenges. As the rally caravan now heads toward Douz, the iconic desert character of the Fenix Rally will truly come to life. With tight standings in many classes, every mistake or mechanical issue could have major consequences. But if day one is any indication, we’re in for an exciting battle in the Tunisian sands.
