Victory and position five at the Morocco Desert Challenge
04/13/2025
- Lionel Baud and his daughter Lucie celebrate a dominant win in the MINI JCW 3.0d
- On their debut in the MINI at a cross-country rally, Gameiro/Romero secure a top 5 position.
The Morocco Desert Challenge 2025 was a true test of endurance: over 2,000 kilometres in just eight days – practically half a Dakar! But Lionel and Lucie Baud rose to the challenge with flying colours. Behind the wheel of their MINI JCW Rally 3.0d, they delivered an outstanding performance and deservedly took overall victory. Maria Gameiro and Rosa Romero also impressed, rounding off the rally with an excellent fifth place.
Lionel and Lucie Baud took control early on: by the second day, the father-daughter duo had claimed the lead and held onto it confidently all the way to the finish. With remarkable consistency, they navigated their MINI JCW Rally 3.0d through the Moroccan desert, finishing every stage inside the top 10 and landing on the daily podium five times.
For Gameiro, it was the first time relying on the navigational skills of Rosa Romero – and their chemistry clicked right from the start. By the third stage, they secured a second-place finish and moved into the top 10 overall. On day seven, while many teams struggled with the challenging terrain, Gameiro and Romero kept their cool. They tackled the tough conditions with composure, finished the day in sixth place, and advanced to a strong fifth overall.
After Easter, the X-raid team continues its campaign: from April 25–27, João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro will take on the Baja TT Norte de Portugal in the MINI JCW Rally 3.0d – the third round of the portuguese Off-Road Championship.
Quotes from the team
Lionel Baud (MINI JCW Rally 3.0d): „I am absolutely thrilled to have won this race together with my daughter Lucie — she did an outstanding job with the navigation. It was a real pleasure to drive this fantastic MINI and to work alongside the excellent X-raid team. A big thank you to Maria and Rosa for their support along the way. This victory is the result of great teamwork!”
Maria Gameiro (MINI JCW Rally 3.0d): “I’m incredibly happy with this fifth place! We spent the whole week focused on learning and improving – and to finish with such a result is just fantastic. Rosa did an amazing job with the navigation, the team was outstanding as always, and I’m feeling more and more comfortable in the MINI. This success belongs to my team, my family, my friends, and all the women who push their limits every day. 2025 is shaping up to be an amazing year – I can’t wait for the next races!”
Overall standings
1. L. Baud / l. Baud – MINI JCW Rally 3.0d – 28h 35m 50s
2. S. Vitse / M. Bonnet – Optimus 29h 03m 14s
3. D. Gerard / P. Delacour – Optimus – 30h 02m 00s
4. A. Rizzardi / C. Fenati – CR7 – 30h 15m 00s
5. M. Gameiro / R. Romero – MINI JCW Rally 3.0d – 30h 34m 20s
