Rally of Morocco – Is the end of Henk Lategan’s title hopes?

Henk Lategan (Toyota) had a bad day on the second stage of the Rally of Morocco 2025. The South African, who arrived at this final of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in 2nd place, lost an hour in the dunes of Erg Chebi!

His inexperience is not the cause of this XXL outlay. Nor is it the fact that he is not comfortable on this terrain, having mostly driven in South Africa, where there are no dunes. No, Henk Lategan and his teammate Brett Cummings were let down by the mechanics of their Toyota Hilux T1+

“With 110 km left to go, the rear differential failed, he revealed to us. We felt it was working less and less on the rocks, then as soon as we got onto the sandy tracks, it broke down for good. Then we hit the dunes. Anyone who has ever ridden on this terrain in 'traction' mode knows that it doesn't work well! It was a very tough day physically. The easy solution for many riders would have been to give up."

Combative, the 2nd in the Dakar 2025 has not given up. "We stopped, lowered the tire pressure, and looked for the best lines to get around the dunes that had become impossible to climb in two-wheel drive. It's obviously a disappointment, but it affects an area that is not our responsibility. I can't really blame myself. It's the law of sport."

Henk Lategan knows his title chances are now practically nil. Championship leader Nasser Al-Attiyah (Dacia) would have to go pointless, as would Lucas Moraes (Toyota). Lategan also needs to win several stages between now and the finish on Friday.

"For the championship, it's very complicated now. Unless something extraordinary happens, it's over for us. From now on, the best thing to do is to help our teammate. (Lucas Moraes, virtually champion at the end of the 2nd stage. Editor's note), continue the race, gain experience. Because this is only my first participation in the Rally of Morocco!

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