Taklimakan Rally wraps up after 13 days and over 4,000 kilometers

The Taklimakan Rally came to an end on Sunday in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, after the participants covered an overall distance of more than 4,000 kilometers. The competition included 10 special stages boasting a total race-length of 2,350 kilometers.

"Launched in 2005, the Rally has grown into Asia's longest, largest, and most competitive off-road race," reported CGTN Sports Scene's Shen Xiang. "The 2025 edition features 23 motorcycles and 105 vehicles navigating roughly 5,200 kilometers over 13 days, before the competitors [crossed] the podium behind me, marking the official end of this year's race."

The drivers and riders had to endure a multitude of landscapes including deserts, gravel, rivers, and mountains. And after the 52-kilometer final stage, Liu Yangui and navigator Chen Feng from the Shan'xi Yunxiang Team clinched the car category title in an overall time of 27:08:15. The victory marks Liu's second time winning the Taklimakan Rally, after previously topping the podium in 2014.

Tao Yongming and co-driver Shen Xin of the Hebei Qian'an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club finished second, while Lin Dewei and navigator Wang Yang, representing the Duonai Shock Absorber Team, secured third place.

The Hoto Factory Racing Team's Martin Michek claimed top honors in the motorcycle division. The Czech's total time was 28:31:04. His Lithuanian teammate, Arunas Gelazninkas, followed closely in second place, while China's Shi Haoyu rounded out the podium in third.