The third stage of the MB Rally Trophy has shaken up the standings. At the front, things remain stable: Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar take their third consecutive stage win and extend their lead to over an hour and a half. Behind them, however, major changes unfold. Gerard de Rooy retires after a crash in the dunes, while Martijn van den Broek once again delivers a strong performance.
Cautious start, dominant finish
The day began with the first real dunes of this year’s rally. A challenging terrain that demands caution, especially for those opening the stage. Erik van Loon reflected critically: “We left too much time on the table while opening in the dunes. We drove conservatively, which makes sense when you’re first on the road. Another competitor passed us and later crashed. We stopped to help until assistance arrived. They’re okay, fortunately, but it shows that sometimes a more measured approach is the best choice.”
As a result, Van Loon and Rosegaar lost some time to direct rival Versteijnen in SS3A, but they made up for it in SS3B. Their time of 1:54:05 in the second special was significantly faster than the rest. “Wouter was spot-on there. While others were still searching for the right lines, he had it all figured out, and we flowed through the stage,” Van Loon explained. With a total day time of 3:13:04, they once again set the pace.
Versteijnen close behind
Jasper Versteijnen and Jelle van Limpt had a strong day. They were even faster than Van Loon in SS3A and closed the day within three minutes of the leaders. Their error-free performance keeps them well in the hunt for a podium finish. The gap is small, and their consistency firmly holds them in second place overall.
Martijn van den Broek and Jan-Paul van der Poel once again finished in the top three. Their second special, clocked at 2:11:06, demonstrated their strong pace. Bob Herber and Gijs Bessem also made their mark, finishing fourth and making a big leap from previous stages. Kees and Renée Box continued their reliable form and rounded out the top five, despite a relatively slow second special. They remain steadily on the rise in the overall rankings, with Maurik van den Heuvel and Anneke Velthuizen following closely behind.
Disaster for De Rooy and Engel
One of the most dramatic moments of the day was the retirement of Gerard de Rooy. Navigator Roel Engel had started the day full of confidence: “We kicked off the first dune stage with a lot of energy, and things were going great. At one point, we were even leading.” But things took a turn. “At an unlucky spot, we went airborne and hit the sand hard.” The impact marked the end of their participation in the MB Rally Trophy, a costly risk for a team that had been competing at the front.
Standings under pressure
Further down the leaderboard, penalties, mistakes, and withdrawals created large time gaps. Several teams finished the day with times over five hours. Johan Pouw, Janus van Kasteren, and Frank van Berlo ran into trouble, while Ruud Vollebregt, after a strong first day, was forced to retire. André van Gerven and Bas Buijnsters also recorded a DNF for this stage.
Tomorrow brings the fourth stage, with three separate specials. The morning opens with a technical, rocky section, followed by a mix of fast tracks and sandy stretches in the afternoon. The day ends with a night stage, where navigation will be crucial. Or as the organization puts it: Into the Empty. Those who remain sharp by then will make the difference.
