The bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal begins tomorrow (Tuesday) with the Prologue at 15:00, right in the heart of Grândola. The fastest drivers in this show stage will earn the privilege of choosing their starting position for Stage 1 — which means everyone will be flat out from the very start.
Before tackling the long stages of the event organized by the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), the car and bike competitors will “warm up” in the Prologue. Watching the biggest Dakar names push to the limit in downtown Grândola promises to be a unique spectacle, with thousands of spectators expected along the 5 km course. The Prologue doesn’t count toward the final classification, but allows the top ten to pick their starting order for Stage 1 — which could prove crucial as the rally unfolds.
It’s the start of a massive challenge for the world’s best, who will face days of intense competition across five stages and a total of 2,160 km — 1,405 of which are timed — through the dirt and sandy tracks of Alentejo, Ribatejo and Spanish Extremadura. This event is the only European round of the Rally Raid World Championship (W2RC) and will wrap up on Sunday, September 28, with a podium ceremony in Lisbon, set against the stunning backdrop of the Padrão dos Descobrimentos.
World champions among the 100+ entries
After the success of last year’s edition, widely praised by international competitors, ACP has introduced some changes to the route, especially in the opening stage, and increased the competitive kilometers by 40%, meaning the 2025 edition will be even more demanding.
Toyota, Dacia, Ford and Mini are bringing their best line-ups to Portugal, with several world champions among the entries: three-time Rally Raid World Champion and five-time Dakar winner Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia Sandrider), nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb (Dacia Sandrider), and two-time World Rally Champion Carlos Sainz (Ford Raptor T1+).
Nasser Al-Attiyah leads the championship and, if he repeats last year’s victory, will be on the verge of securing another world crown. “I’m very happy to be in Portugal for one of my favorite races. I won here in 2024 and I have a good feeling for this year. It’s a tough rally with very different terrains — fast sandy sections and forest tracks that demand total focus. We did a lot of testing in Morocco with the Dacia Sandrider and the team will give everything to win,” said Al-Attiyah, who also revealed his big goal: “My dream is to win a fourth world title — it would be very special, right after Dakar.”
Yazeed Al Rajhi, winner of Dakar 2025, Henk Lategan, Seth Quintero, Lucas Moraes, and Portugal’s João Ferreira will all drive the Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo and are serious contenders, as is Carlos Sainz in the evolved Ford Raptor T1+. X-raid will line up two Mini JCW 3.0i cars for Denis Krotov and Lionel Baud.
Portugal’s Gonçalo Guerreiro, revelation of the last Dakar with his brilliant runner-up finish, returns to the World Championship in Nasser Al-Attiyah’s Taurus Evo Max team and is a candidate for victory in the Challenger category. Another major storyline is Alexandre Pinto, who could clinch the SSV world title in a Polaris RZR. Two extra reasons to follow the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal closely.
The level on two wheels is just as high, with 10 RallyGP riders representing KTM, Honda, Hero and Sherco. Daniel Sanders (KTM) leads the championship and is chasing his fourth win of the season. The Australian is unstoppable: the first to win more than two rounds in a single year, he also set new records with 19 stage wins and 11 special stage victories in one season. Tosha Schareina (Honda), winner of the inaugural bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, is aiming to repeat his success this year.
Watch the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal Prologue live here: https://rallyraidportugal.com/content.aspx?menuid=1341
Quotes
Cristina Gutiérrez (Dacia Sandrider)
“I’m very happy to be back racing at the end of the season, ahead of the next Dakar. It’s great to compete in Portugal, and having so many fans watching is very motivating. The whole team is ready, and I’m optimistic and determined to get a good result.”
Lucas Moraes (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo)
“I know Portugal well — it’s where I did my first race with Toyota. It’s good to be back after the summer break. The level is very high, but after the tests we’ve done, I’m ready to fight for victory. Strategy will be key.”
João Ferreira (Toyota Hilux T1+ Evo)
“We’re in a good moment, with two important wins that really boosted our motivation. We’ve already beaten some of the rivals we’ll face here, but when it’s a W2RC round, everyone pushes that little bit harder, so I expect stronger competition. After finishing second in 2024, we won’t be hiding — we’re here to fight for the win.”
Alexandre Pinto (Polaris RZR)
“It’s amazing to race at home — I can’t wait to start. It’s my first time competing in the World Championship with the Polaris RZR, and I’m still getting to know the car. It’s going to be a tough rally, not just with my championship rival Enrico Gaspari, but also with fast Portuguese outsiders. My goal is to fight for the title.”
Ricky Brabec (Honda CRF 450)
“I’m happy to be back racing and I hope to improve and get a strong result in Portugal. It’s a difficult rally, with a lot of navigation, so besides being fast we need to stay fully focused. It will be a challenge and great preparation for Dakar.”
Program – September 23 (Tuesday)
Grândola – Parque de Feiras e Exposições
13:30 – Press conference (Bikes) — Start podium, with public area
14:15 – Press conference (Cars) — Start podium, with public area
15:00 – Start, first bike, Prologue Grândola (5 km)
16:25 – Start, first car, Prologue Grândola (5 km)
18:30/19:00 – Autograph session (Parque de Feiras e Exposições, Grândola)
19:30 – Start ceremony (Bikes), Parque de Feiras e Exposições
20:30 – Start ceremony (Cars), Parque de Feiras e Exposições