LESS SAND AND A TRIPLE DOSE OF SPAIN
Orlando Romana, the person in charge of the route of the rally, did not beat around the bush when queried about the guiding principles of the 2025 edition of the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal: "After the first edition, we listened to what the competitors had to say. They loved the foray into Spain and the roaring crowds they met there. The stint in Extremadura will be longer. Less sand and more of Spain will make this a different race."
As in 2024, Grândola will set the scene for scrutineering and the prologue. The ceremonial start will take place the evening after the prologue in the heart of the bivouac, which will open its doors to the public so that no-one misses out on the party. Stage 1 will introduce a fresh new take on the rally as it takes the field south-west towards Beja. The fast, winding dirt tracks will be a real treat for the competitors. Sand will make a blink-and-you'll-miss-it appearance in the last 30 km of the return trip to Grândola.
Stage 2 will bid farewell to the capital of Alentejo and set course for Spain. Although the rally already spent a night there last year, back then only the entrants and skeleton service crews were allowed into the bivouac in Badajoz. This time round, the most populated city in Extremadura will host the bivouac for two nights. Stage 3 will be held entirely in the country of Carlos Sainz and Tosha Schareina, on the same kind of surface as stage 1, which will be the signature trait of the second edition. Stage 4 will cross the border back to Portugal after the start of the special, pushing the number of days of racing on Spanish soil to three.
RETREADING OLD GROUND IN LISBON
After the field rolls into Lisbon at the end of stage 4, the bivouac will pitch the tents at the Docapesca em Pedrouços, on the edge of the vast estuary of the Tagus, a river that bubbles out of the ground in Spain and empties into the Atlantic Ocean on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital.
Stage 5, a loop around Lisbon, will come to an end on eucalyptus-lined sand tracks, on a podium set up at the foot of the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) celebrating Portuguese navigators. Those who emerge victorious from this journey of discovery will be feted on 28 September before shipping their vehicles to Africa for the Rallye du Maroc, which will wrap up the championship between 10 and 17 October. First, however, will come a wild celebration, as Lisbon, the capital of the country that pioneered rally raids in Europe, renews its ties to the international rally-raid caravan. The last time was from 2006 through 2008, when the Dakar picked the Portuguese capital as the starting point for its adventure.
Carlos Barbosa (President, Automóvel Club de Portugal):
"The bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal stands out as the only round of the championship held in Europe, offering a truly unique challenge compared to every other event on the calendar. Known for its technical and demanding stages, it is a true test of driving skill and endurance for the world's best competitors. Beyond the sporting dimension, Portugal's deep-rooted passion for motor sports ensures an atmosphere unlike any other, with fans turning out in force to celebrate the thrill of rally raid. This combination of distinctive terrain, competitive intensity and national enthusiasm makes the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal an unmissable highlight of the season."
Schedule
• 5 September at 6 pm: closing date for entries
• 17 September at 6 pm: publication of the entry list
• 19 September at 12 pm: opening of the bivouac in Grândola
• 21 September at 10:30 am: opening of the Media Center
• 21 September from 2 pm – 22 September: administrative and technical scrutineering
• 23 September:
- 12 pm: general and stage 1 briefing
- 2 pm: pre-race press conference
- 3/5 pm: FIM/FIA prologue (5.15 km)
- 7 pm: ceremonial start
• 24 September: stage 1 — Grândola–Grândola (total: 426 km / SS: 299 km + 5 km)
• 25 September: stage 2 — Grândola–Badajoz (total: 650 km / SS: 423 km)
• 26 September: stage 3 — Badajoz–Badajoz (total: 510 km / SS: 309 km)
• 27 September: stage 4 — Badajoz–Lisbon (total: 493 km / SS: 288 km)
• 28 September: stage 5 — Lisbon–Lisbon (total: 289 km / SS: 103 km)
- 4:30 pm: final press conference
- 7 pm: prize-giving
Portugal: UTC+00:00
