bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal

Sanders and Schareina trade stages across changing terrain as Portugal reshapes the championship picture

A fast start on slippery ground

The rally opened in Grândola with a short 1.8-mile (3 km) prologue, just enough to shake the dust off and set the first order on the road. Even in that brief effort, the tone of the week was already there. Even in that brief effort, the tone of the week was already there, tight gaps, precise riding, and no room for mistakes. Daniel Sanders came out sharp, taking the win by a single second over Tosha Schareina, with the top ten covered by only a few seconds. It was a small sample, but it hinted at a race that would stay close.

Stage 1 brought the first real challenge. A 111.8-mile (180 km) special around Grândola introduced the riders to the kind of terrain that would define the event. Hard-packed sections mixed with loose surfaces, wet sections and standing water, and a grip that kept changing corner after corner. Sanders found his rhythm early and built a solid gap, putting more than two minutes into Schareina by the finish. Adrien Van Beveren of Monster Energy Honda HRC followed close behind, keeping Honda in the fight from the start.

In Rally2, Bruno Santos of BS – Frutas Patrícia Pilar turned local knowledge into a decisive advantage. With multiple stage wins and a pace that placed him inside the overall top five, his performance stood out across the entire field. Martim Ventura of Monster Energy Honda HRC followed closely, reinforcing the strength of the Portuguese riders on home ground, while Neels Theric of Kove Factory Racing secured a podium finish that marked an important step for the developing project.

Rally3 told a similar story. Gonçalo Amaral of Wingmotor controlled the category with confidence, repeating his success at this event, while his brother Salvador Amaral remained part of the fight throughout the week. Their presence added another layer to a rally where familiarity with the terrain kept proving decisive. Across categories, riders like Jeremy Knuiman of Xraids Experience and Dušan Drdaj continued to gain ground, using the event to build experience in conditions that demanded precision from start to finish.

By the time the rally came to a close, Portugal had left its mark on the championship. Sanders, Schareina, Benavides and Brabec now sit within a narrow margin in the standings, with every point carrying weight moving forward. On these roads, the difference came down to small moments, corners where confidence mattered, and sections where knowing the terrain made all the difference.