The Fenix Rally 2025 entered its final stretch today with Leg 5, a 316-kilometer loop that once again showcased the breathtaking beauty and unforgiving nature of the Tunisian Sahara. Starting and finishing in Douz, the route led competitors deep into the Grand Erg Oriental, tracing a spectacular path through Tembaine and Es Sabria before returning to the rally bivouac.
This stage offered a fascinating mix of dunes, camel grass, and gravel, with the main focus on the sand. The route was divided into two parts, separated by a neutralization zone. The first section combined mixed terrain with progressively sandier stretches leading into the dunes, while the second featured demanding dune fields filled with soft fesh-fesh. These dunes were both technical and unpredictable, with variable structures and delicate transitions that tested even the most experienced crews.
Navigation demanded precision and patience — reading the terrain carefully and maintaining rhythm through the soft sections was essential. Every wrong line could cost valuable minutes, making compass work and pace management critical elements of success. The constantly shifting terrain required not just driving skill, but also tactical intelligence and mental endurance, as crews faced long hours of concentration under the desert sun.
Fatigue has now become a familiar companion, but so has determination. With only two stages remaining, the finish line in Douz draws ever nearer — yet the Tunisian desert continues to astonish with its beauty and its relentlessness.
Leg 5 will be remembered not only for its stunning landscapes, but for the resilience and mastery it demanded — a true test of balance between speed, strategy, and endurance.
After another demanding day on the sands of the Grand Erg, the results of Leg 5 began to take shape. Precision, patience, and tactical awareness proved just as valuable as outright speed, as teams navigated one of the most intricate stages of the rally. Below are the top three performers in each class, who stood out for their consistency, control, and determination in one of the most defining moments of the Fenix Rally 2025.
ENDURO_CC
1. Christian Pastori (ITA) – Husqvarna FE501 – Compass Racing Team – 03:48:51.26
2. Urban Jerkic (SVN) – KTM EXC 500 – Desert Soul Rally Team – 03:49:25.35 (+00:34)
3. Edvard Sokolovski (LTU) – KTM Rally Replica – AG Dakar School – Hiltus – 03:51:13.23 (+02:22)
ATV_CC
1. Gaetan Martinez (FRA) – CFMoto CForce – CFMoto Thunder Racing Team – 04:13:12.97
2. Antanas Kanopkinas (LTU) – CFMoto CForce – CFMoto Thunder Racing Team – 04:14:06.70 (+00:54)
SSV_CC
1. Nicolas Martinez / Loriane Forgues (FRA) – Overdrive OT3 – Aravis Rallye Raid – 03:35:39.71
2. Daniel Pernot / Thierry Laloup (FRA) – Polaris Turbo R – AT4R – 03:47:28.48 (+11:49)
3. Juraj Varga / Radovan Schneider (SVK) – Polaris RZR Pro R – Varga Motorsport Team – 03:53:50.48 (+18:11)
CAR_OPEN
1. Agostino Rizzardi / Claudio Fenati (ITA) – Porsche-Century CR6T – Countrysideways – 03:43:44.37
2. Vincent Thijs / Arjan Van Tiel (BEL/NLD) – Toyota Hilux – RT Offroad – 03:43:53.27 (+00:09)
3. Hardo Mere / Joonas Oja (EST) – HM7 Proto – HM Racing Team – 03:58:48.70 (+15:04)
CAR_LIMITED
1. Abd El Karim Ben Hssan / Mohamed Ali Drira (TUN) – Toyota GRJ79L – 03:03:54.00
2. Ernst Amort / Carmen Borkowetz (ITA / SVN) – Toyota Tacoma – 04:33:25.00 (+1:29:31)
3. Ewald Holler / Markus Bodzenta (AUT / AUT) – Toyota Land Cruiser KZJ73 – 04:41:48.00 (+1:37:54)
TRUCK_CC
1. Paolo Calabria / Loris Calubini / Giuseppe Fortuna (ITA) – MAN TGA – Eagle Racing Team – 03:18:59.00
2. Gerrit Zuurmond / Tjeerd van Ballegooy / Klaas Kwakkel (NLD) – MAN TGA 18.480 – Rainbow Truck Team – 03:34:09.00 (+15:10)
3. Tom Heuer / Christoph Tum / Marco Richter (DEU) – Tatra 815 – Sueptitz Motorsport – 03:53:17.00
Tomorrow Leg 6: Douz to Monastir (404 km)
The penultimate stage led competitors north through Tunisia’s heartland, from Douz to Monastir via Kebili and Kairouan. Covering 404 km, the route unfolded in two distinct parts separated by a long neutralization of 3 hours and 45 minutes.
Part 1 began with 25 km of fast but twisty chott tracks, then transitioned into rocky hills with technical gravel roads. Toward the end, the terrain became slightly sandy, featuring double-danger zones and speed-limited sections. Competitors had to pay special attention to main-road and railway crossings.
The neutralization offered a long and scenic drive through mountain passes and a stony canyon — a narrow but breathtaking stretch. Refueling was required at least twice for motorbikes and SSVs.
Part 2 was shorter but demanding, with speed limits, bumpy tracks, and heavy dust testing both endurance and concentration.
For many, it was a day to manage fatigue and stay focused ahead of the final stage. Just one more day, and the dream would become reality.
Official press release
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