In the blistering heat of the Al Qudra Desert, the final official start of the 2025 rally raid season echoed across the dunes this past weekend. The Dubai International Baja, a long-standing fixture in the Middle East, served as the grand finale of the FIA and FIM World Baja Cups. Bringing together competitors from around the globe, the compact three-day event featured a spectacular prologue in Hatta followed by two demanding dune stages south of Dubai.
Mitchel van den Brink Dominates and Wins World Baja Cup
For Mitchel van den Brink and Bart van Heun, the rally was far more than a formality. Despite already securing the World Baja Cup title in Qatar, the duo wanted to end the season in style, and they did just that. After finishing second in the SSV category on Saturday and delivering a solid drive on Sunday, the young Dutch team convincingly claimed the stage win and overall victory in Dubai. This final triumph capped off a dominant season and solidified their position as rising stars heading into Dakar 2026.
“You have to stay sharp in the Dubai dunes,” Mitchel explained. “We pushed hard without taking unnecessary risks. Henk Lategan was quicker today, but over two days we were the strongest. That feels good.” The pair also finished fifth in the overall classification, competing against the faster T1 cars.
Erik and Anja van Loon End Year on a High Note
Erik van Loon also caught attention. After a season plagued by technical setbacks, everything finally came together in Dubai. Partnered with navigator Wouter Rosegaar, he kicked things off with an impressive second place in the prologue, despite the absence of a roadbook. “It was like driving blind, literally and figuratively,” Erik said. “Sun in our faces, no wind, but we enjoyed it. Finishing second was a great result.”
In the following stages, Van Loon delivered another strong performance in a flawless South Racing Can-Am Maverick R. A fourth place among the SSVs and ninth overall provided a satisfying conclusion to the season. “The car ran perfectly, and Wouter didn’t make a single mistake,” Erik said proudly. “We’ve shown that the pace is there.”
Anja van Loon, together with navigator Floor Maten, also began the weekend strongly with an eighth place in the prologue. Despite setbacks on Saturday, the duo bounced back on Sunday, once again crossing the line in eighth. “Today was great. Smooth drive, no issues, and Floor did a fantastic job,” Anja reflected cheerfully.
Strong Finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing
In the car category, the brand-new Toyota DKR GR Hilux made its competitive debut. Seth Quintero and Andrew Short impressed with stage wins on Friday and Saturday, but a five-minute time penalty for speeding on a liaison cost them the overall win. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow because we had the win in our hands,” Quintero admitted. “But this was a fantastic test. The car is fast, reliable, and comfortable. We’re heading to Dakar full of confidence.”
Toby Price, two-time Dakar winner on a bike, made his four-wheel debut in a Hilux EVO and immediately secured a podium. With a stage win on Sunday, he proved that he is dangerously quick behind the wheel as well. “It was a great learning experience. Step by step I’m getting better. I’m hungry for more.”
Victory in the car category went to Argentina’s Juan Cruz Yacopini in an SVR Toyota Hilux. Taking advantage of Quintero’s penalty, he consistently set strong times to secure the win. Martin Prokop finished fourth in his Ford Raptor, followed by Khalid Al Qassimi and Henk Lategan.
Big Names and Local Talent in Bikes and Quads
In the motorcycle field, the Dubai International Baja was won by Britain’s Alex McInnes. After a troubled prologue, he bounced back with a commanding ride on Saturday to seize the lead. He held off Poland’s Konrad Dabrowski and local hero Mohammed Al Balooshi.
As expected, Abdulaziz Ahli was in a class of his own in the quad category. The Emirati rider cruised to victory with a twenty-minute lead over Polish challenger Marcin Wilkolek. Once again, Ahli proved why he is considered one of the world’s best in this discipline.
Dutch Presence in the Spotlight
The Dutch presence in Dubai was impressively strong. Mitchel van den Brink took the SSV win and wrapped up the season as World Baja Cup champion. Erik and Anja van Loon confirmed their upward trajectory with solid results. In total, four Dutch teams completed the rally in the fiercely competitive SSV class, with three of them running under the South Racing banner.
Mitchel and Erik also both finished in the top five of Sunday’s final stage, a powerful reminder that the Dutch rally raid scene is gearing up to make a major international impact in 2026.
Desert as a Testing Ground for the Future
With nearly 400 kilometers of special stages, a prologue without navigation, a technically demanding dune landscape, and high speeds, the Dubai International Baja once again served as the perfect testing ground for both man and machine. It’s no surprise that the event remained part of both the FIA World Cup and the Middle East Baja Cup calendars this year.
For many teams, the rally also acted as a final dress rehearsal ahead of the Dakar Rally in January. From Dubai, the spotlight now shifts to Saudi Arabia, where the biggest challenge of all awaits.
