Day 1 of the 2025 Baja España Aragón delivered high drama in the truck category, where speed met endurance across two demanding timed stages: a long morning special from Torrijo del Campo to Gea de Albarracín, followed by a shorter, technical loop in the Argente–Cella zone in the afternoon.
Right out of the gate, Czech driver Martin Macík, with František Tomášek and David Švanda riding alongside in their Liaz 111154, made a clear statement—they came to win. Fast, focused, and nearly flawless, the Czech trio controlled both stages and ended the day at the top of the leaderboard.
Initially, the battle looked set to be fierce, with early prologue winners Javier Mariezcurrena, Ángel Iribarren, and Joseba Berasategui (IVECO) holding second after the morning stage, and the Dutch crew of De Groot/Huselbosch/Van Rooij also in close pursuit. But fate had other plans—Mariezcurrena's team suffered mechanical problems during the afternoon run, dropping them from contention and ending their hopes of a podium finish.
As the dust settled on Stage 2, Macík and his team once again clocked the fastest time—1:42:51.6—extending their lead. But the biggest surprise of the day came from Belgium’s Steven Rotsaert, Bram Lapere, and Emile Dewitte, who powered their MAN TGS-X into second place, just 15 seconds off the lead. A sensational result for a team that wasn’t on many people’s radar.
In third, the Spanish crew of Jordi Esteve, Francisco José Pardo, and Jordi Pujol (DAF FTXF 105) kept things close and now find themselves in striking distance going into the final day.
Meanwhile, the inspiring all-female team of María Helena Tarruell, Jaqueline Ricci, and Arantxa Martí continues their bold challenge through one of the toughest events in rally-raid. Grit, determination, and teamwork are carrying them forward.
Tomorrow, the trucks return to the 132 km Argente–Cella loop for the final showdown. With time gaps razor-thin, the fight for the top step of the podium is far from over.
For complete results and live updates, visit the official site: www.bajaaragon.com
Source: Baja Aragón. Text adapted and edited by our editorial team.
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