As Super Typhoon Ragasa struck southern China in late September 2025, unusual images began circulating online: cars strapped tightly to trees with ropes. At first glance, the sight looked bizarre, but for local residents it was a desperate attempt at storm protection.

With wind speeds reaching more than 200 km/h, even heavy vehicles risk being shifted, overturned, or swept away. To reduce damage, residents in Guangdong and surrounding provinces used thick ropes to anchor their cars to sturdy trees, poles, or other fixed structures. This improvised method, while not foolproof, helps prevent cars from rolling into buildings, blocking roads, or being carried by floodwaters.

Typhoon Ragasa forced the evacuation of nearly 1.9 million people in Guangdong. Rail services, schools, and businesses were suspended. Along the coast, hurricane-force winds, torrential rains, and severe flooding were reported, with major disruptions in Shenzhen, Zhuhai, and Yangjiang.

Although tying cars to trees may appear unusual, it illustrates how people adapt quickly in the face of increasingly powerful tropical cyclones. For many families without access to garages or secure shelters, ropes and strong trees became their last line of defense against the world’s strongest storm of the year.

Photo: Viral image shared on social media during Typhoon Ragasa.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) entered the final day of the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal holding a one-two lead in the overall standings of the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Stage 4 featured 274 km of competitive sections — fast stony tracks, narrow and slippery segments, and winding lakeside routes.

Lucas Moraes / Armand Monleón (#203 GR Hilux EVO) retained their leading position by finishing fourth on the stage, following a consistent pace strategy to protect their first place.

Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (#202 GR Hilux EVO) started and ended the day in second. They delivered a strong performance, taking third on the stage and cutting the gap to the leaders down to 34 seconds.

Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (#204 GR Hilux EVO) were fighting for a podium spot, but an engine failure just 2 km before the finish forced them to retire from the rally.

At present, N. Al-Attiyah / F. Lurquin (Dacia Sandriders) hold the leading position in the absolute rally-raid standings, with S. Loeb / E. Boulanger (Dacia Sandriders) in second. However, TGR W2RC still controls two of the top three positions.

Only one stage remains — a 103 km competitive section in Stage 5, which will determine the final standings and reveal whether TOYOTA can close with a victory in its second strong result of the season.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) remains firmly in the fight for podium positions after Stage 2 of the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, the penultimate round of the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

The second stage was the longest of the rally at 429 km, starting from Grândola in Portugal, crossing into Spain through mountainous terrain, and finishing in the historic walled city of Cáceres. The route included sandy forest tracks, narrow bridges, and tight gates, demanding exceptional precision and endurance from all crews.

• Lucas Moraes / Armand Monleón (#203 GR Hilux EVO)
  The pair started the day second overall but lost time with an early puncture and difficult dusty conditions. Despite this, they delivered consistency and finished fifth on Stage 2, holding third place overall.

• Henk Lategan / Brett Cummings (#202 GR Hilux EVO)
  After leading overnight, their day was filled with setbacks: two punctures, a broken driveshaft, and an off-course incident. Despite the troubles, their determination carried them to eighth on the stage. They now sit fifth overall, less than two minutes from the podium.

• Seth Quintero / Andrew Short (#204 GR Hilux EVO)
  Starting 25th after a 100-minute delay on Wednesday, Quintero and Short powered back with a strong performance. Fighting through dust, they secured fourth place on Stage 2 and remain determined to climb further.

Looking ahead, Stage 3 on Friday will cover 308 km around Badajoz (Spain), offering another opportunity for the GR Hilux EVO crews to push for stage wins and strengthen their bid for an overall victory.

Quotes

Henk Lategan:
“It was a tricky day for us. We had multiple issues, but we managed to keep going. We’ll reset and aim for a stronger Stage 3.”

Lucas Moraes:
“Despite a puncture and dust problems, we’re still in a strong position. The fight is on, and we’ll keep pushing.”

Seth Quintero:
“It was a great comeback. Starting 25th was tough with all the dust, but we made up good ground and scored valuable points.”