A intense weekend of cross-country rally racing in one of Europe’s most iconic off-road destinations. Competitors from across the continent gathered at the central bivouac, ready to tackle a compact yet demanding format designed to deliver maximum racing action over three days.
The day began with the highly anticipated Prologue at 08:30, giving competitors their first taste of the terrain that defines Baja Europe: fast forest tracks, sandy sections, and technical navigation challenges. From the opening kilometers, the pace was immediately high, confirming Baja Europe’s growing reputation as a key training ground for international cross-country rally competition.
Following the Prologue, racing resumed at 13:00 with the first and second competitive sections of Rally Leg 1. Designed as a compact but high-performance event, Baja Europe compresses the essence of cross-country rallying into a single weekend, combining speed, navigation, and endurance in equal measure.
The split-format schedule—with separate runs for motorcycles/quads and four-wheel vehicles—allowed each category to perform at its best while maintaining a safe and controlled racing environment. Fast sections rewarded confidence and commitment, while more technical segments demanded precision and smart decision-making, especially with navigation relying entirely on digital roadbook systems.
As the first day of competition concluded, the provisional standings began to take shape, although margins remain extremely close across all categories. Teams returned to the bivouac to analyze data, refine strategies, and prepare for the next stages, with the fight for victory still completely open.
In the Prologue classifications, the first three positions in each category already highlighted the high level of competition expected throughout the weekend, with several crews separated by only a few seconds after the opening stage.
Enduro:
1. BEREND DE RUITER -NLD- HUSQVARNA FE 450
2. URBAN JERKIC -SVN- KTM EXC 500
3. EDVARD SOKOLOVSKI -LTU- KTM EXC450
ATV:
1.KAROL SLUGOCKI -POL- POLARIS SCRAMBLER 1000 XP S
2.ROB VERVLOESEM -BEL- POLARIS SCRAMBLER XP 1000 S
3. JERZY MAKEDONSKI -POL- BOMBARDIER DS 650 X
SSV
1. LUKAS LAUDA / STEFAN HENKEN -AUT/DEU- UTVPARTS MAVERICK R
2.GRZEGORZ GASIOROWSKI / KATARZYNA SZALEGA -POL- POLARIS RZR PRO R
3. ARUNAS LEKAVICIUS / ARUNAS GELAZNINKAS -LTU- BRP MAVERICK R
Car Opel
1. RIENTS HOFSTRA / MICHIEL SICKLER -NLD- RED-LINED REVO T1+ GTR
2. BERT MOURIK / ROBERT VOOR DE POORTE -NLD- RED-LINED RED-LINED
3.JENNE JASPER / MARIJN VERBEEK -NLD- BOWLER NEMESIS
Car Limited
1. HAGEN MAIKRANZ / DAVID GOSEBRINK -DEU- MITSUBISHI PAJERO
2. ROBBERT VAN LUTTERVELD / SUZAN SAAT -NLD- MITSUBISHI PAJERO
3. GUNTHER HEUPEL / MATTHIAS KOELSCH -DEU- TOYOTA HILUX
Truck
1. TOM HEUER / CHRISTOPH TUM / MARCO RICHTER -DEU- TATRA 815
2. OLIVER SCHAELLER / MARCEL FLEISCHHAUER -DEU- MERCEDES BENZ UNIMOG
3. TILO SUEPTITZ / LARS HILLER / RENE STEINBACH -DEU- KAMAZ 4911
The same intensity continued during Rally Leg 1, where the top three competitors in every category further confirmed the balanced and highly competitive nature of the event, setting the stage for an exciting battle in the remaining stages of Baja Europe 2026.
Enduro:
1. URBAN JERKIC -SVN- KTM EXC 500
2. BARTLOMIEJ TABIN -POL- KOVE 450 RALLY EX
3. TOBIAS HAIDT -DEU- KTM EXC 525
ATV:
1. ADAM KRYSIAK -POL- POLARIS SCRAMBLER XP 1000 S R24
2. ROB VERVLOESEM -BEL- POLARIS SCRAMBLER XP 1000 S
3. KAROL SLUGOCKI -POL- POLARIS SCRAMBLER 1000 XP S
SSV
1. ARUNAS LEKAVICIUS / -LTU- BRP MAVERICK
2. ALAR VESKI / KAIDO KOOL -EST- CAN-AM MAVERICK
3. LUKAS LAUDA / STEFAN HENKEN -AUT/DEU- UTVPARTS MAVERICK R
Car Opel
1. REMIGIUSZ WUTKOWSKI / ARTUR KORDALA -POL- NISSAN PATROL
2. RIENTS HOFSTRA / MICHIEL SICKLER -NLD- RED-LINED REVO T1+ GTR
3. BERT MOURIK / ROBERT VOOR DE POORTE -NLD- RED-LINED RED-LINED
Car Limited
1. ROBBERT VAN LUTTERVELD / SUZAN SAAT -NLD- MITSUBISHI PAJERO
2. HAGEN MAIKRANZ / DAVID GOSEBRINK -DEU- MITSUBISHI PAJERO
3. GUNTHER HEUPEL / MATTHIAS KOELSCH -DEU- TOYOTA HILUX
Truck
1. TOM HEUER / CHRISTOPH TUM / MARCO RICHTER -DEU- TATRA 815
2. CHRISTOPH LAUENROTH / FRANK MUELLER -DEU- MERCEDES BENZ UNIMOG
3- TILO SUEPTITZ / LARS HILLER / RENE STEINBACH -DEU- KAMAZ 4911
Tomorrow, the final day of Baja Europe, features 170 crucial kilometers where every second could make the difference in the fight for victory. Competitors will once again face sandy terrain and technical forest sections similar to Day 1, but fatigue and pressure will make the challenge even tougher. Staying concentrated from start to finish will be essential, as consistency, navigation, and strategy will ultimately decide the winners of the rally.
Source: RBI Sport
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