Last updated on 31. October 2026
Series: Fenix Rally – The doorway to Sahara
Jeremy Knuiman provisionally leads the motorcycle classification of the Fenix Rally after the seventh and final stage. On Saturday, 31 October 2026, the Dutchman lost 2 minutes and 50 seconds to Justin Gerlach, who won the final stage near Monastir. In the overall standings, Knuiman is 3 minutes and 15 seconds ahead of Gerlach according to the provisional classification.
Final stage: Gerlach faster, Knuiman defends his lead
The special stage was 82.84 kilometres long and ran over tracks, camel grass, fields and villages with oncoming traffic. The roadbook called for several speed zones of 30 and 50 km/h as well as compulsory two-second stops. The finish was a flying finish at kilometre 82.84. According to the competition documents, the total length of the stage was 202 kilometres; the RallyTracks report, by contrast, mentions a 228-kilometre loop from an earlier provisional schedule.
Gerlach completed the special stage in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 9.56 seconds. Daan Veenendaal was 1 minute and 50 seconds behind, Knuiman 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Richard Wijntjes finished fourth on the stage, Florian Willer fifth. Gaspard Delsart took seventh place, Georg Reinprecht eleventh. Pascal De Baar received a 15-minute time penalty on the stage for speeding and came 13th.
According to a media report, race management added a further neutralisation in the morning between kilometre 30.32 and 32.44, because children were present in that section. The roadbook provided for a 20-minute neutralisation from kilometre 18.59. Both statements are given here side by side; the organiser has not confirmed the additional neutralisation.
Overall standings after stage 7
The provisional overall classification after stage 7 (as of 31 October 2026, 18:13) looks like this for the motorcycles:
- 1st: Jeremy Knuiman, total time 28 hours, 2 minutes and 24.31 seconds
- 2nd: Justin Gerlach, 3 minutes and 15 seconds behind
- 3rd: Daan Veenendaal, 1 hour, 7 minutes and 46 seconds behind
- 4th: Gaspard Delsart, 3 hours, 51 minutes and 11 seconds behind
- 5th: Richard Wijntjes, 6 hours, 17 minutes and 1 second behind
Pascal De Baar is in 9th place after the final stage. Sara Jugla lost her position in the overall standings after receiving a time penalty of 1 hour, 22 minutes and 40 seconds on the final stage for speeding offences. The provisional classification lists her in 8th place.
The figures for Knuiman’s time penalty differ. The provisional classification shows a total of 15 minutes and 30 seconds of penalty time for him, while the media report says a penalty of 13 minutes and 30 seconds was imposed for stage 3. The difference has not been clarified.
Looking back: the sixth stage is halted
The sixth stage from Douz to Monastir was halted after around 108 kilometres. Heavy rain had made the chott impassable, and the alternative route could not be used either. The result was compiled at kilometre 108. According to race director Alexander Kovatchev, continuing was barely feasible because of the large number of participants and the lack of fuel stations on a possible detour. The participants then rode to Monastir on the tarmac road. After that stage, Knuiman was 6 minutes and 5 seconds ahead of Gerlach.
German-speaking starters
Justin Gerlach (Germany, number 11) is in 2nd place overall and won the final stage. Florian Willer (Germany, number 9) finished fifth on the final stage and is 7th overall. Georg Reinprecht (Austria, number 24) came 11th on the stage and is 16th overall.
In an audio recording, Gerlach said (translated from German): “In the end it wasn’t enough for the overall win.” He said that made him second overall. He also said: “So, a very, very successful rally.” Of the motorcycle, he said: “I’ve really warmed to the motorcycle.” In his words, he remained uninjured: “All intact, nothing hurt.”
Knuiman, 23, was contesting his first desert rally, according to RallyTracks. According to his team, the start was mainly meant to gather experience in navigating and riding in unfamiliar terrain. After the finish, Kovatchev said in English, in essence, that everyone had thought the final stage would be a lap of honour, but then all sorts of things happened (translated from English).
The prize-giving was planned for the evening at the Hotel Rosa Beach in Monastir, at about 20:30 to 21:00 according to the competition documents. Until the official announcement of results, the placings remain provisional.
Sources and image credits
Text sources: RallyTracks.nl, “Knuiman wins Fenix Rally on debut, Thijs and Van Tiel dominate in the cars”, 31.10.2026, original article. RallyTracks.nl, “Rain halts sixth Fenix Rally stage, Knuiman retakes the lead”, 31.10.2026, original article. Also used: competition documents for Leg 7 (Common Competitor Briefing), provisional classification after stage 7 (as of 31.10.2026, 18:13) and the stage 7 results list (as of 17:00), each an organiser document of the Fenix Rally without an online link, as well as audio recordings of Justin Gerlach, used with consent.
Photo: subject rider with number 21 in front of the Fenix Rally archway. Photographer not named. Original source: RallyTracks.nl, published 31.10.2026. Date of photograph not documented. Used with reference to the original source.