The third stage of the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal brought big surprises. It shook up the race, changing who was in the lead. For the car teams, Portuguese driver João Ferreira faced a tough break. He made a mistake and lost his top spot. Brazilian Lucas Moraes, also driving a Toyota, took over the lead. On the motorcycle side, Spain’s Tosha Schareina, on a Honda, moved into first place. Portuguese drivers Gonçalo Guerreiro and João Dias are doing well. They lead the Challenger and SSV categories with their respective “Aranhiços” vehicles. The excitement continues tomorrow, Saturday. This “European Dakar” heads back to Portugal’s Alentejo region. Drivers will cover 274 kilometers against the clock.
The third stage was the only part of the event held entirely in Spain’s Estremadura region. The Automóvel Club de Portugal organized this leg. It stretched for 308 kilometers. This was the second-longest timed section of the race this year. It proved pivotal, shaking up the leaders in both car and motorcycle divisions.
Lucas Moraes drove his Toyota faster than anyone else. This performance put him at the top. “It was a great day,” Moraes said after the stage. “I drove a clean race. I even saved my tires, even though the course was hard. I’m in the lead now, and that’s a good spot for the days to come.” Seth Quintero, also in a Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo, posted the second-best time. Carlos Sainz finished just behind him. The Spanish driver remains a top contender. He continues to fight for the win, even after getting a flat tire today. “It was another fighting stage for me,” Sainz explained. “Starting first yesterday cost me some time. But I’m happy with how I drove. I’ll keep pushing my hardest.”
Nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb had a strong run. He was the fourth fastest on the stage in his Dacia Sandrider. “I liked the route,” Loeb shared. “Finally, I had a stage without problems. This race is tough. Things are always happening. We’ll see how it ends.”
João Ferreira, from Leiria, Portugal, had been controlling the race. He was keeping his Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo in front. But at the 161-kilometer mark, things went wrong. His car went off the road. A wheel rim broke, and then a fire started. This incident stopped the race for about an hour. The young driver posted only the 52nd fastest time, 1 hour and 51 seconds behind the leader. He dropped to 32nd place overall.
Other Portuguese drivers had better luck. Gonçalo Guerreiro finished seventh in the stage. He now leads the Challenger category in his Taurus Evo Max. João Dias also shone, leading the SSV category in his Polaris RZR. He sits 12th overall. Both drivers put on excellent shows against famous international competitors.
Motorcycle Lead Changes Hands
The motorcycle race saw another fierce battle. KTM and Honda riders fought hard, but Honda came out ahead. Spanish rider Tosha Schareina, riding a Honda CRF 450 Rally, put on a clinic. Racing in his home country, he attacked relentlessly. Schareina won the stage by 2 minutes and 18 seconds over Daniel Sanders. He is now the new leader on two wheels. “It was a good day for me,” Schareina said. “I gave it my all in the last 100 kilometers. My tires were very worn. I gained some ground for tomorrow. I’ll be first on the road, but the next few days will be hard.” This marks a significant moment for Honda. They haven’t led a World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) event since the Abu Dhabi race.
Australia’s Daniel Sanders, on his KTM 450 Rally, finished second on the stage. This meant he lost his overall lead. “I survived a very technical stage,” Sanders noted. “It really demanded a smart plan. I tried to save my tires as much as I could on a tough stage. I’m happy to reach the finish. Tomorrow, with new tires, it will be different.” Sanders is the current championship leader. Only 42 seconds separate the two top motorcycle riders. Tomorrow’s stage promises to be thrilling.
Portuguese rider Bruno Santos, on a Husqvarna FR450 Rally, again showed his speed. He proved he could match the best riders globally. He recorded the fastest time on the stage. However, he received a one-minute penalty. This dropped him to second place in the Rally2 category, and eighth overall. “It was a very technical and fun stage,” Santos commented. “I really enjoyed it. I hope to be just as fast tomorrow.”
Results After Stage 3 (Cars)
- 1st Lucas Moraes (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo), 8h 38m 07s
- 2nd Carlos Sainz (Ford Raptor T1+), +4m 22s
- 3rd Henk Lategan (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo), +9m 05s
- 4th Sebastien Loeb (Dacia Sandrider), +19m 32s
- 5th Christian Baumgart (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo), +26m 54s
- 6th Francisco Barreto (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo), +26m 54s (1st Portuguese)
Results After Stage 3 (Motorcycles)
- 1st Tosha Schareina (Honda CRF 450 Rally), 9h 11m 02s
- 2nd Daniel Sanders (KTM 450 Rally), +42s
- 3rd Luciano Benavides (KTM 450 Rally), +9m 22s
- 4th Ricky Brabec (Honda CRF 450 Rally), +9m 32s
- 5th Edgar Canet (KTM 450 Rally), +15m 32s (1st Rally2)
- 8th Bruno Santos (Husqvarna FR450 Rally), +21m 29s (1st Portuguese)
Stage four takes place this Saturday. It connects Badajoz, Spain, to Lisbon, Portugal. The total distance is 528 kilometers, with 274 kilometers timed. The first part of the stage is narrow and difficult, still in Spanish territory. Then, riders enter Portugal near Reguengos, Portel, and Évora. This section features a mix of good and challenging surfaces. It’s a classic Alentejo route, finishing in Lisbon at Doca de Pedrouços. The public is welcome to visit the race camp there. It will be open from 6 PM to 11 PM.