Under a bright sun and with the Doha skyline as a backdrop, the 2025 Qatar International Baja officially got underway today. The short prologue, just under 10 kilometers in length, served as a warm-up and to determine the starting order for Friday’s first real stage. In the SSV category, where the Dutch presence is strongest this year, Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun made an immediate impact. Driving their South Racing Can-Am Maverick R, they clocked the seventh-fastest time overall and finished as the top Dutch team.
Erik van Loon surprises with substitute
For Erik van Loon, the rally began in an unexpected fashion. Navigator Wouter Rosegaar had to withdraw at the last minute due to a leg infection. His place was taken by Martin van den Brink, who was able to step in last minute. Despite the shake-up, the experienced pair kept their cool and drove to 16th place in the prologue, just seconds behind Mitchel van den Brink. “It was a bit of a shock,” Erik admitted, “but thankfully Wouter is recovering and Martin was able to jump in. The prologue went well, and the new Can-Am really feels great.”
Anja van Loon also impressed in her first rally since Dakar. Competing for the first time with navigator Hein Verschuuren, she finished 21st overall, holding her own amid a competitive international field. “It’s my first time this year in the buggy and with a new navigator, so I had to get used to everything during the shakedown. But the confidence came quickly and I’m very happy,” said an enthusiastic Anja.
Strong times for Ekström
In the car category, it was Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari who set the fastest time in his Taurus T3 MAX, narrowly beating teammate Khalifa Al-Attiya. In the SSV class, Mattias Ekström showed why he is considered a contender, taking top honors in his category and placing third overall with his Can-Am.
Also noteworthy was the strong performance from Juan Cruz Yacopini, who finished fourth in his Toyota Hilux, just ahead of the experienced Miroslav Zapletal. Defending champion Denis Krotov received a 15-second time penalty, which cost him valuable ground.
Dutch riders on two wheels: Dumore steady
In the motorcycle class, the fastest time went to Konrad Dabrowski on his KTM 450 Rally, followed by British rider Alex McInnes. The sole Dutch motorcyclist, Luc Dumore, finished 25th in the prologue. This places him squarely in the middle of a field of over fifty riders, with room to improve in the longer stages ahead.
Looking ahead to Stage 1
Tomorrow brings the first true test: a 220-kilometer stage divided across three varied sections through Qatar’s interior. The mix of fast gravel tracks, dunes and technical navigation zones will quickly begin to separate the contenders from the rest. The Dutch competitors have started well, but they know the rally is only just beginning.
With Mitchel van den Brink leading the Dutch charge in the SSVs, Erik van Loon close behind with Martin van den Brink, and a confident Anja van Loon ready for more, everything is still to play for. The coming days will reveal who can maintain their form in the blistering desert heat.
