The first stage of the 2025 MB Trophy was anything but a warm-up. The route around Erfoud was packed with hazards, including deceptive parallel tracks, dangerous descents, and tricky navigation through palm groves. It was precisely in these challenging conditions that Erik van Loon and navigator Wouter Rosegaar made their mark. Despite the MB Trophy not being a competition in the traditional sense, the duo convincingly claimed victory in the opening stage.
Following their prologue win, Van Loon and Rosegaar were the first to hit the stage. That’s usually seen as a disadvantage, but their experience and teamwork once again proved invaluable. The navigation was complex, and on multiple occasions, the pair had to search for the correct path. But they kept their cool. Van Loon drove with precision and avoided unnecessary risks. Their reward: a dominant performance, completing the 127-kilometer stage in 1:36:07, with an impressive average speed of nearly 80 kilometers per hour.
De Rooy strong in second, Van Gerven surprises
Gerard de Rooy, driving with start number 401, also had a solid day. He finished second with a time of 1:43:08, over seven minutes behind Van Loon. The standout performance of the day came from André van Gerven and Ted Peters, who, driving car number 414, secured third place. Their time of 1:46:59 meant they outpaced several well-known contenders.
The battle for fourth and fifth place was tight, with multiple teams finishing within a minute of each other. Patric Brinkman and Hein Verschuuren clocked 1:51:11 to claim fourth. Janus van Kasteren and Paul Spieringhs followed closely with 1:52:52. Both teams confirmed their ambitions for the overall standings but were also made aware of the high pace being set.
Navigation a key factor
The stage featured several critical points, including a 200-meter-deep canyon and a steep rocky descent marked as ‘danger 3’ in the roadbook. Navigation also proved to be a major challenge, with several crews losing valuable time. Among them were Maarten Kanters and Danny van Aken, who, despite a strong start, lost eight minutes in the second half of the stage.
With the opening stage now behind them, the teams face a double challenge tomorrow. In the morning, they’ll tackle the first real dunes—a tough test for some, pure enjoyment for others. In the afternoon, a flat yet navigationally complex stage awaits, where finding the right route will matter more than outright speed.
UPDATE:
After time penalties were applied, the standings of the first stage of the MB Trophy saw significant reshuffling. Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar comfortably hold on to first place with a final time of 1 hour and 36 minutes, having received no penalties at all. The biggest changes occurred just behind them. Kees and Renée Box surprisingly move up to second place despite receiving a 15-minute time penalty, partly because their direct competitors were also penalized.
Patric Brinkman and Hein Verschuuren climb to third place but were handed 30 minutes in penalties for missing waypoints. Notably, Gerard de Rooy, who originally held second, drops to fifth place after a hefty 45-minute penalty. Martijn van den Broek and Jan-Paul van der Poel take advantage of that and move into fourth.
The day’s results highlight just how crucial precise navigation and speed within limits are in this rally. Penalty minutes weigh heavily, and a single wrong decision can cost tens of minutes. It underlines the complexity of the event and sets the bar high for the upcoming stages.
