After four grueling days in the desert, the fifth and longest stage so far brought the competitors from Khnifiss to Dakhla over a total of 768 kilometers, including a 396-kilometer special. Although the terrain appeared straightforward, a vast sea of sand, the lack of visual references made accurate navigation a serious challenge. This stage also marked the end of the Moroccan section of the rally, with the much-needed rest day awaiting in Dakhla.
Gallas takes the win, Lepan grabs the lead
Germany’s Kevin Gallas claimed the stage victory in 3 hours and 19 minutes, narrowly beating Yamaha rider Jean-Loup Lepan, with Thomas Marini completing the top three. Gallas pushed hard but stayed within the limits: “I had fun the whole time but had to constantly make sure I didn’t go over 150 km/h, or I’d get a penalty.”
Lepan’s second place gives him the overall lead with just 25 seconds over Gallas and one minute over Marini, setting the stage for decisive battles in the second half of the rally.
Housset surprises, Van Pollaert still leads
Guy Housset was fastest in the car category, finishing in 3 hours and 7 minutes. He was closely followed by Philippe Lambilliotte (+23s) and David Gérard (+1m36). All three drove MD Optimus vehicles, which performed strongly on the fast Moroccan tracks.
Pol Van Pollaert finished fourth but remains solidly in the overall lead. Christian Femont trails by nearly 26 minutes, with Lambilliotte more than 35 minutes behind.
Lafay strikes back, Derikx remains sharp
After mechanical issues on day four, Pierre Lafay bounced back by winning the special in 3:27:45. Dutchman Sander Derikx followed in second, just under ten minutes behind, with Bob Herber third. Lafay retakes the overall lead ahead of Grarre and Cambier.
Martijn van den Broek had a tough stage, losing track for a while. Strong winds and dust caused poor visibility — a costly factor on a navigation-heavy day like this.
Zuurmond dominant, heavy crash for Essers
Gerrit Zuurmond once again proved unstoppable, winning the truck stage in 3:47:30. His lead in the standings is now six hours over Mike Panhuijzen and eleven over Martin Roeterdink. He finished the stage with a heavily damaged front tire and only one spare left: “This stage shredded rubber,” Zuurmond said.
Noel Essers was less fortunate. After a flat tire, his MAN truck crashed and ended up on its side. The Belgian driver suffered a broken collarbone. Despite the crash, the crew managed to bring the truck back to the bivouac, but their rally is over.
Dutch riders strong before rest day
Sander Derikx once again led the Dutch pack with an impressive second place in the SSV category. Despite a flat tire, he stayed close to Lafay’s pace, even though both vehicles are limited to 135 km/h. Bob Herber followed closely with another solid performance.
Martijn van den Broek lost time after the fuel stop but stayed calm: “Today we lose some time, later we’ll gain some back. Dakar is still far away.” Marcel van Berlo had a steady day. Maarten Buitenhuis did not appear in the rankings but was en route to Dakhla. Lejon Fokkema fell for the second day in a row — this time harder — but reached the bivouac in one piece. Robert Jr van Pelt rode strongly but was exhausted after the finish. It’s been a while since his last rally. Robert Sr van Pelt rode in a controlled manner and reached the rest day safely.
Bert Heskens and his team, after waiting in Zagora for several days, decided not to restart. Their car and equipment are now being prepped for return transport.
Looking ahead: rest day and into Mauritania
With the finish in Dakhla, the caravan closes the Moroccan chapter. A rest day is next, before heading into Mauritania, where vast plains, soft dunes, and brutal navigation will further shape the rally’s character.
The Africa Eco Race can be watched daily on RTL7, airing at 12:30, 17:30, and 00:30. RallyTracks follows the Dutch participants closely and brings their stories to life from the ground.
