A Penultimate Pursuit | Special Stage 4 at Sonora Rally 2025

The unforgiving beauty of the Sonoran sands set the stage for today’s Special Stage 4 (SS4). From the desolate, slippery road at the D.S.S., where solitude reigned and the distant train tracks whispered of long-forgotten journeys, to the near-invisible track blending into the barren expanse of the A.S.S., the terrain offered both awe and adversity. The course twisted through soft, loose roads before giving way to the towering dunes of the Grand Altar Desert—nature’s own coliseum where today’s competitors fought for every second.

Tremendous hurdles loomed large, with the four-wheeled competitors facing a condensed roadbook. Even with an abbreviated course, race cars were falling victim to the glittering waves of khaki and lemon-hued granules piled high from millennia of erosion. It was a relentless battle against the elements. In the YXZ, Brock Harper and Steven Geist [#201] reached the final time clock at 2:46:51, trailed by Bill Conger and Angelo Vlcek [#203], who clocked in at 3:32:57. Rookies in the Bronco, Nathan Hayashi and Shane Hairsine [#210], secured third at 5:50:54.

However, victory was short-lived for Number 203 as mechanical gremlins struck again, forcing their sleek silver buggy out of the race once and for all. Meanwhile, the desert continued to claim its casualties. George La Monte [#206] fell victim to a broken radiator after a hard landing off a small crest, proving once again that the Sonora Rally spares no one. Some competitors never even made it to the start line at D.S.S.

While others struggled on course, the trio of Isuzus worked tirelessly in the bivouac. Merging three into two, the LAP Motorsports team cannibalized one vehicle to strengthen the remaining pair, hoping to make a final stand in Special Stage 5. Other teams, however, knew when to throw in the towel, packing up their rigs for the long haul home. Lance Webb and Kirk Callanoil [#205] were among them, deciding that the Altar would have to wait for another day.

Gary Payne and Phil Ashworth [#202] took their Speed UTV as far as it would go on SS3, but it would go no further in SS4 due to a more serious mechanical failure. But not all was lost. Despite struggling to finish a complete stage so far, underdogs Bruno Pinillos and navigator Brad Goodfellow [#204] finally conquered the Sonoran desert, maneuvering their classic green Datsun through the relentless dunes and across the finish line at A.S.S.

With the towering dunes of the Grand Altar Desert in the rearview, the competitors now set their sights on the next stage, where fresh challenges await. The road to glory is paved with struggle, but as today’s racers proved, they are more than ready to meet the desert head-on. For now, it’s time to regroup, recalibrate, and rest—because tomorrow, the sands of Sonora will demand even more.

To learn more about the event, head to https://sonorarally.com/. To follow the final stage of the race and keep an eye on reports and results, stay tuned @SonoraRally on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.