The 2025 Rallye du Maroc kicked off this Sunday in the city of Fez, bringing together around 250 competitors from five continents for one of the world's most prestigious desert racing events. Held under the patronage of King Mohammed VI until October 17, the opening day featured the prologue stage, a 19 km showcase run that determines the starting order for Stage 1 of the fifth and final round of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in the Ultimate T1+ category. Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah topped the leaderboard, clocking 11 minutes, 56.8 seconds behind the wheel of his Dacia Sandrider, followed by Portugal's João Ferreira (Toyota Hilux) just 0.11 seconds behind, and France's Sébastien Loeb, also in a Dacia Sandrider, in third place (+0.17s). In the motorbike category, French rider Thomas Zoldos claimed first place with a time of 14 minutes, 33.3 seconds, ahead of compatriot Noah Saint (14:41.02). Morocco's Achraf Zoulati finished seventh, completing the stage in 19 minutes, 56.8 seconds. The first stage of the rally kicks off on Monday, linking Fez and Erfoud over a total distance of 780 km, with the entire rally covering approximately 2,299 km. Speaking to MAP, Chris Evans, a representative of the organizing committee, emphasized the international importance of the event, calling it «the most significant rally after Dakar», and highlighting the presence of world-class champions. Youssef Zahidi, president of the Royal Moroccan Automobile Federation, described the Rallye du Maroc as a key round in the global championship, given Morocco's challenging terrain and the growing national interest in motorsport. He also praised King Mohammed VI's support for motor racing, noting that «all conditions have been met to ensure the rally's success». Seven-time Rallye du Maroc winner and reigning world champion Nasser Al-Attiyah called the race «one of the most beautiful rallies» thanks to its varied terrain, expressing hope to secure his eighth title and retain his championship crown. Moroccan driver Omar Benhayoun, participating for the first time in the car category, shared his pride at representing Morocco: «It's an honor to take part in such a major event. I'll do my best to represent my country well, gain experience, and aim for a strong finish». Saudi rally driver Maha Al-Hamli, also competing, said she was delighted to participate in what she called one of the «most beautiful and toughest» rallies in the world, viewing it as a «major step» in her sporting journey. Rally legend Carlos Sainz described the event as «the ultimate test before Dakar», noting that it allows teams to assess their cars' performance against top competitors.
