Brazilian driver Lucas Moraes clinched his second podium of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship season this Saturday (24th), finishing third overall at the South African Safari Rally in South Africa. Teaming up with Spanish co-driver Armand Monleon, Lucas delivered a strong comeback in the final stage of the event.
The African round, the third stop of the championship, was a brand-new challenge for most of the field, who faced the savanna terrain for the first time. Throughout the rally, Lucas consistently remained in the top five, showcasing steady performance that ultimately earned him a spot on the podium.
Drama Until the End – Over the five days of competition, the rally had no clear-cut leader. Positions at the top shifted daily, making for an unpredictable and intense battle. Lucas entered the final stage determined to recover time lost during Stage 4, where a navigation error cost him precious minutes—a setback that affected many competitors.
Driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing, Lucas completed Saturday’s 111 km special with the second-fastest time, just 1m56s behind stage winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger, who clocked in at 1h08m49s. South Africa’s Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings finished third on the day, 2 minutes off the lead.
The result sealed the overall rally win for Lategan and Cummings, who completed the five-day challenge in 12h10m42s. Sébastien Loeb and Fabian Furquin were runners-up, trailing by just 1m39s, while Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleon claimed their second consecutive podium of the season, finishing 2m55s behind the South African duo.
“The car was blazing fast today — we tore through the savanna at 170 km/h, like a rocket. I’m super happy with second place on the stage and third overall. That’s two straight podiums in World Rally-Raid events, so I just want to thank everyone who’s been supporting and cheering us on. It was a new and really fun experience here in Africa,” said Lucas.
The strong result helps Lucas hold onto third place in the overall championship standings, now with 89 points — just five behind new second-place driver Henk Lategan. Nasser Al-Attiyah continues to lead with 114 points.
Next up: the Ultimate Rally-Raid in Portugal, a race where Lucas grabbed two stage wins in 2024.
Automatic / AI translation of the Portuguese version
Source: BestPR / Lucas Moraes
