Day 3 of the World Rally-Raid Championship’s Rally-Raid Portugal proved decisive as competitors tackled a demanding stage from Grândola into Spain, with French driver Sébastien Loeb maintaining control of the overall standings. The Dacia Sandriders driver, alongside co-driver Édouard Boulanger, moved into the lead after a dominant performance on Stage 2 and carried that advantage into the next phase of the rally.
Loeb’s charge began on the 377km special stage between Grândola and Badajoz, where he set the fastest time and led at every checkpoint. His consistency and pace allowed him to edge out strong Toyota competition, with drivers such as Guy Botterill finishing just seconds behind, keeping the pressure firmly on heading into Stage 3.
Other key contenders remain in close pursuit in the overall classification. Early rally leader João Ferreira lost time after opening the road, while Lucas Moraes and Nasser Al-Attiyah also conceded minutes, leaving the leaderboard tightly packed as the rally reached its midpoint.
In the bike category, Spain’s Tosha Schareina delivered one of the standout performances of the rally so far, claiming a stage victory on home terrain and moving into the overall lead. The Honda rider’s pace and consistency have put him ahead of strong competition, including Daniel Sanders of KTM, as the battle for top honours intensifies.
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