The 2025 Fenix Rally is beginning to reveal its true nature. Stage two brought a demanding 220 kilometers of special stages, split across three sections, with an additional 110 kilometers of liaison. The terrain became faster and more challenging, the overall standings began to take shape, and the Dutch competitors frequently found themselves at the front of the pack.
Rainbow Truck Team claims control in the truck category
In the truck class, the day belonged to the Rainbow Truck Team. Gerrit Zuurmond, Tjeerd van Ballegooij, and Klaas Kwakkel delivered a stellar performance, confidently driving their MAN truck to the stage win. Their time of 3 hours, 15 minutes, and 28 seconds not only made them the fastest team of the day but also propelled them into the overall lead, overtaking Germany’s Tom Heuer in his Tatra. Heuer crossed the line more than eight minutes later, meaning yesterday’s deficit was flipped into a five-minute and nineteen-second advantage. It was a strategic boost for the Dutch trio, especially given that Gerrit is tackling dunes for the first time with an automatic gearbox. The switch from manual to automatic seems to suit him surprisingly well.
Setback for Thijs and Van Tiel after flying start
In the Open class for cars, Vincent Thijs and Arjan van Tiel got off to a blistering start in stage two. The duo was flying and even held the overall lead after 140 kilometers. But technical trouble struck when their navigation tablet froze. Time was lost restarting the system and regaining orientation. “We lost at least half an hour in total, with about fifteen minutes of direct time loss to our rivals,” Arjan reported. They eventually finished the day in fifth place, with a time of 2:57:39.82, nineteen minutes behind Italian stage winners Agostino Rizzardi and his co-driver.
Dutch presence strong in SSV field
The Dutch also made their mark in the highly competitive SSV category. Edwin Opstelten and Henny van Kouwen, driving a Thundercamels Can-Am, delivered a solid performance to secure sixth place. Their time of 2:54:39 put them ahead of several factory-level teams. Arjan Donders and Edwin Vloemans crossed the line in 28th position with their Polaris XP Pro. The other Thundercamels crew, Marco van Heugten and Michelle Opstelten, had a tougher day and were forced to retire from the stage. Jan Wilzing and Jaroslav Kosan also didn’t make it to the finish line.
It was a double dose of bad luck for Greenteam Panhuijzen, as neither of their vehicles, the truck of Mike Panhuijzen, Bert van Koon, and Pieter Kuypers, nor the SSV of Jori and Tom Panhuijzen, reached the end of the stage. Still, the team remains in the race and is determined to make progress and gain experience in the stages ahead.
Category leaders after stage two
Among the bikes, Lithuania’s Edvard Sokolovski held on to the overall lead with another commanding ride, taking the stage win on his KTM in 2:50:15. His compatriot Antanas Kanopkinas once again led the way in the ATV category. The fastest SSV crew of the day was French duo Matthieu Marconnet and Chloé Simon, who narrowly edged out Slovak favorites Varga and Schneider. In the car class, the Porsche Century CR6T of Rizzardi and Fenati was dominant. And in the truck class, it was all about the Netherlands, with Rainbow Truck Team notching the stage win and moving into the overall lead.
Dutch camp holding strong in Tunisia
After two stages, it’s clear that the Dutch competitors are holding their own in this compact rally. Alongside the leading performance of the Rainbow Truck Team, Thijs and Van Tiel remain in contention in the car category, and several SSV crews continue to fight with determination. While some aim for podium positions, others focus on learning, gaining experience, and reaching the finish line. Conditions in Tunisia remain unpredictable, and with five more rally days to go, anything can still happen.
Tomorrow, the rally moves further south. Expect more sand, longer specials, and likely another set of challenges for both man and machine. One thing’s for sure, the Dutch camp is ready for more.
