Ales Loprais showcased exceptional skill in the third stage of the Dakar Rally 2025, moving even closer to the top position in the truck category. Competing under the InstaForex Loprais Team banner with a De Rooy FPT truck, he now trails the overall leader by a mere three and a half minutes.
On Tuesday, January 7, competitors journeyed from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, heading northwest. Originally, the selective section for the stage was planned to be longer, but recent storms in the region disrupted the itinerary. Heavy rains had rendered parts of the terrain near the stage’s endpoint difficult to navigate, prompting the organizers to shorten the special stage by 169 kilometers. This left participants with 327 timed kilometers to cover. The route demanded versatility, with about 25% consisting of rugged, rocky tracks and the rest comprising faster gravel sections sprinkled with sand but devoid of significant dunes.
Loprais, supported by teammates David Kripal and Darek Rodewald, took the lead in the truck category after the first hundred kilometers and never relinquished it. Their red-and-black Iveco finished with a slim margin of 53 seconds over Lithuanian driver Vaidotas Zala, who also piloted a vehicle prepared by Team De Rooy in the Netherlands.
"It was a tough, rocky challenge," said Loprais. "Every second counted, and there was no room for error. We had to be precise and avoid damaging the tires. Thankfully, we managed, though just barely—our tires were completely worn by the end," he added. Loprais also expressed delight for Kripal, saying, "This is David's first stage win in the Dakar, and it’s a milestone worth celebrating!"
The victory allowed Loprais to cut 5 minutes and 20 seconds off his time gap with overall leader Martin Macik. After three grueling stages covering over 1,700 kilometers of competitive racing, Loprais now trails Macik by just 3 minutes and 34 seconds.
The rally continues on Wednesday, January 8, and Thursday, January 9, with two challenging stages. The caravan will move from Henakiyah to AlUla and then proceed to ?a’il. These stages form part of the rally’s marathon segment, where teams must forgo external mechanical assistance, relying only on their own resources at a single bivouac in AlUla. Wednesday’s route, spanning 415 kilometers, will take drivers through breathtaking yet treacherous canyons, a hallmark of the AlUla region.
Loprais Tatra Team Shines in Dakar Classic
Simultaneously, participants in the Dakar Classic category, including two Tatra trucks from the Loprais Tatra Team, also left Bisha for Al Henakiyah.
"The organizers aren’t giving us any breaks," said Igor Pazdera, who is racing with co-driver Olga Lounova and mechanic Milan Holan in a replica of the iconic Tatra 815-2 "Puma." "The terrain has everything—trees, rocks, and sand. Yesterday, during the second half of the 48H Chrono Stage, we even encountered our first dunes as part of a navigation challenge. Today, we face the longest distance yet, with 811 kilometers ahead."
Heading into the third stage, Pazdera’s team ranked fifth in the H2 Truck group standings, while their teammates Jiri Husek, Lubomír Do?kal, and Dominik Holan in a Tatra 815 4×4 HAS held sixth place.
On Tuesday, the Dakar Classic teams completed four regularity tests along with a navigation challenge. The Loprais Tatra Team achieved strong results, with Pazdera’s crew securing first place in the H2 Truck group during the final test of the day and finishing third in another. Husek’s team also performed consistently, achieving second place in three tests and demonstrating their reliability throughout the stage.
