De Rooy FPT Mitchel van den Brink keeps lead in Rallye du Maroc despite puncture

Oct 03, 2026

Mitchel van den Brink has kept the lead in the truck category after the fourth stage of the Rallye du Maroc. The Team De Rooy FPT driver finished second on the stage, behind Martin Macík. A puncture cost him the stage win. In the overall standings, he leads by 33 minutes and 14 seconds.

Second on the stage

Van den Brink finished the 318-kilometre special 5 minutes and 35 seconds behind Macík. Including two liaison sections, today’s programme covered 450 kilometres.

Fast tracks, dunes and rocks

The route once again headed north-east. The first section consisted of fast tracks. Valleys and technical sandy sections followed. After a small dune pass, the competitors drove along fast tracks winding between mountains and valleys. The finish lay at the end of a very rocky track. “This is the nicest stage in the whole race. It’s another fast one with more dunes and some navigation,” said Marc Coma (director of Rallye du Maroc) ahead of the stage.

Flawless day apart from one puncture

Van den Brink agreed with that assessment after the finish. “It was a nice stage with lots of fast tracks. There were also a few dunes in it,” said Van den Brink. The only problem of the day was a puncture. “Unfortunately, we missed out on the stage win because of a puncture. Apart from that, we basically drove without mistakes and nothing happened to us,” said the driver from Harskamp.

Tactics for the next stage

Van den Brink is taking a cautious approach to the next stage. “We still have enough of a lead. So tomorrow we’re in a good position to let Macík go and stay with him,” said Van den Brink. “Then we should be able to secure the position.” The final stage features a 259-kilometre special. That is the last distance separating Van den Brink and Team De Rooy FPT from overall victory in Morocco.

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