The Fenix Rally 2025 reached its most challenging and emblematic point today with Leg 4, the longest and perhaps the most demanding stage of the entire rally. Competitors faced a 520-kilometer loop starting and finishing in Douz, a route that unfolded through some of southern Tunisia’s most remarkable and contrasting landscapes — from ancient cultural landmarks to vast, untamed desert expanses.
Leaving Douz at dawn, participants embarked on an epic journey that led them west toward Matmata, famous for its millennia-old troglodyte dwellings carved into the rock — a silent witness to the endurance of human life in the harsh desert environment. From there, the route continued south through Kamour and Tataouine, before turning north once more via the lush oasis of Ksar Ghilane, a striking green gem surrounded by endless dunes, marking one of the most scenic highlights of the day.
The terrain offered a relentless succession of challenges: fast sandy pistes demanding focus and control, rocky plateaus testing suspension and tire durability. Each kilometer demanded total concentration, combining physical effort with mechanical awareness and mental strength. For many teams, the day became a true endurance test — not just of speed, but of strategy, adaptation, and teamwork.
Weather conditions added another layer of complexity emphasizing once again that the Fenix Rally is not merely a race — it’s a journey of resilience and discovery. The day’s long hours behind the wheel pushed every competitor to the limit, yet also offered unforgettable moments of beauty and satisfaction for those who reached the finish line back in Douz.
This leg encapsulated the very essence of the Fenix Rally: a perfect balance between adventure, endurance, and emotion. It was a stage that rewarded those capable of maintaining composure under pressure and finding that fine equilibrium between speed and mechanical preservation.
As the rally continues deeper into the Sahara, Leg 4 will be remembered as one of the defining chapters of the 2025 edition — a day that combined the raw intensity of competition with the timeless allure of the desert. In the heart of Tunisia, the spirit of the Fenix once again proved that in this rally, every kilometer tells a story of courage, passion, and perseverance.
After an intense day in the desert, the results began to take shape as teams reached the bivouac in Douz. The demanding 520-kilometer leg proved decisive in reshaping the overall standings, rewarding consistency, smart navigation, and mechanical endurance. Below are the top three competitors in each class, who distinguished themselves with exceptional performance and determination in one of the rally’s most iconic stages.
ENDURO_CC
1. Edvard Sokolovski (LTU) – KTM Rally Replica – AG Dakar School - Hiltus
2. Urban Jerkic (SVN) – KTM EXC 500 – Desert Soul Rally Team
3. Duong Nguyen Khoa (FRA) – KTM EXC – France Road Book
ATV_CC
1. Antanas Kanopkinas (LTU) – CFMOTO CFORCE – CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team
2. Gaetan Martinez (FRA) – CFMOTO CFORCE – CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team
SSV_CC
1. Juraj Varga / Radovan Schneider (SVK) – Polaris RZR Pro R – Varga Motorsport Team
2. Edwin Opstelten / Henny van Kouwen (NLD) – Can-Am Maverick X3 – Thundercamels
3. Tomas Kubiena / Miroslav Losos (CZE) – Can-Am Maverick R X RS – Story Racing
CAR_OPEN
1. Agostino Rizzardi / Claudio Fenati (ITA) – Porsche-Century CR6T – Countrysideways
2. Vincent Thijs / Arjan Van Tiel (BEL/NLD) – Toyota Hilux – RT Offroad
3. Koen Wauters / Tom De Leeuw (BEL) – Toyota Hilux – Feryn Rally Raid
CAR_LIMITED
1. Abd El Karim Ben Hssan / Mohamed Ali Drira (TUN) – Toyota GRJ79L – Tunis Automobile Club
2. Ewald Holler / Markus Bodzenta (AUT) – Toyota Land Cruiser KZJ73 – Hekla Competition
3. Ernst Amort / Carmen Borkowetz (ITA/SVN) – Toyota Tacoma – Pircher Williams
TRUCK_CC
1. Philippe Roman / Cedric Delmas / Mathieu Tonello (FRA) – Mercedes Unimog – Roman
2. Gerrit Zuurmond / Tjeerd van Ballegooij / Klaas Kwakkel (NLD) – MAN TGA 18.480 – Rainbow Truck Team
3. Tom Heuer / Christoph Tum / Marco Richter (DEU) – Tatra 815 – Sueptitz Motorsport
Tomorrow Leg 5: Douz - Douz (316 km)
The fifth stage offered a spectacular journey through the heart of the desert, covering 316 km from Douz into the vast Grand Erg, passing through Tembaine and Es Sabria before returning to Douz. This stage presented a fascinating mix of dunes, camel grass, and gravel, with the main focus on the sand.
Navigation demanded precision and patience — reading the terrain carefully and maintaining rhythm through the soft sections was essential. 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.
Fatigue has now become a familiar companion, but so has determination. With only two stages remaining, the finish line draws closer — yet the Tunisian desert continues to astonish with its beauty and its relentlessness.
Official press release
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