After briefly leading Stage #2, Mathieu Serradori returned to find he has been disqualified by the FIA for underweight wheel rims and using beadlocks on them.
Taurus T3 Max cars finished 1–2–3–4–5–6–7–8 in Challenger during Tuesday’s stage in Morocco, including a podium sweep by the EnergyLandia Taurus Factory Team courtesy of Michał Goczał, his nephew Eryk, and brother Marek.
Tragedy befell the World Rally-Raid Championship for the second time in 2024 when Rally2 rider Frédéric Baudry died from injuries sustained in a fall on Monday. He was 46.
Ricky Brabec’s crash in Stage #1 has effectively clinched Ross Branch his maiden World Rally-Raid Championship in the RallyGP category (barring Branch doesn’t retire as well).
Due to severe flooding that bogged down Rallye du Maroc competitors heading to the next bivouac in Zagora, race officials have opted to swap the courses for Stages #1 and #2. The “new” Stage #1 will also be reduced from 317 kilometres to 180 km.
Sébastien Loeb’s début stage with Dacia was overshadowed by a broken right suspension arm and his Sandrider in a ditch. At least the Prologue doesn’t count towards the overall.
Paul Spierings’ Dakar Team Spierings has fomed a partnership with Rebellion Racing for the 2025 Dakar Rally. Rebellion brings their Toyota Hilux into the fold while Spierings will have his two Challenger cars.
With Oriol Mena attending to a family matter, Eryk Goczał has enlisted Álex Haro as his navigator for the Rallye du Maroc. Meanwhile, Martin Koloc will be joined by Mirko Brun instead due to medical concerns for David Schovánek.
Patricio Cabrera, the youngest person to make ten Dakar Rally starts and the current SCORE International Pro Moto Ironman points leader, will enter the Baja 1000 and 2025 SCORE season with Kawasaki. He was the last Kawasaki bike rider to complete the Dakar in 2019.
On Tuesday, the FIM Jury plans to meet with World Rally-Raid Championship teams to discuss creating a title for teams, separate from the current manufacturers’ championship.
After four years of leading the OT3 programme, G Rally Team will début the new G-ECKO Challenger car at the 2025 Dakar Rally.
Malle Moto riders will be allocated six sets of tyres for the 2025 Dakar Rally, and the use of unmarked tyres creates a 10-minute penalty. Repairs must be done inside a designated area while an engine change eliminates them from the class altogether.
The 2025 FIA World Baja Cup will span eight races, while the European Baja Cup has nine and the Middle East Baja Cup continues with its four-round calendar.
Jaromír Romančík has signed with the newly created Cajdašrot Dakar Team, with whom he will race the 2025 Dakar Rally as a solo rider in Original by Motul.
Due to his wife Erica’s medical concerns, Gerrit Zuurmond has withdrawn from the Rallye du Maroc. In his place, his co-driver Tjeerd van Ballegooij will make his World Rally-Raid Championship driving début in the Rainbow MAN.
Season Four of the World Rally-Raid Championship will retain the Dakar Rally, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, and Rallye du Maroc, while replacing the Desafío Ruta 40 with the new South African Safari Rally.
Due to a critical issue in the driveline’s secondary cooling system, an issue that cannot be rectified on site in Morocco, Aleš Loprais and Team de Rooy will not race the Rallye du Maroc.
