Stage 8 of the 2025 Dakar Rally saw competitors traverse the vast expanse of Riyadh Province, with a demanding 483-kilometer timed special stage testing the skills and endurance of riders and drivers alike. The route, which split at times for FIM and FIA vehicles, featured impressive dune sections and tricky navigation, requiring unwavering concentration from all participants.
Benavides Claims Maiden Stage Win
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides emerged victorious on Stage 8, securing his first stage win of the 2025 Dakar Rally. The Argentine rider’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he stopped mid-stage to assist the injured Pablo Quintanilla, who was forced to exit the race due to a shoulder injury. After being credited with the time lost aiding his fellow competitor, Benavides topped the stage results by an impressive 2 minutes and 8 seconds over teammate Adrien Van Beveren.
“It’s never easy to see a fellow rider crash, so Adrien and I stopped to help Pablo, and we stayed with him for about 30 minutes,” explained Benavides. “After we restarted, it was difficult because the crash is always playing on your mind, but you have to just keep going. Despite having to ride in the dust from many riders and make several overtakes, I pushed really hard, and it paid off with my first stage win of the race, which is amazing!”
Sanders Maintains Overall Lead
Despite the challenge of opening the stage, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders delivered another strong performance, finishing seventh on the stage and maintaining his overall lead by 11 minutes. The Australian showcased his versatility and navigational prowess on the demanding terrain, taking a significant step towards securing the title with just four stages remaining.
“That might have been the toughest stage yet, especially the first 100 kilometers, which were really technical and hard to navigate, so I lost a fair bit of time there,” said Sanders. “After the refuel, it was really fast, and I was opening with Edgar [Canet], which was cool. I made a few little mistakes here and there, but I have a decent starting position for tomorrow, so I’m happy.”
Canet Extends Rally2 Lead
Rally2 standout Edgar Canet continued to impress, finishing eighth overall and second in his category. The 19-year-old Spaniard, the latest recruit to the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, extended his class lead to over 31 minutes, while also climbing to eighth in the overall rankings.
Lategan Dominates in Riyadh
In the car category, South African Henk Lategan secured his second stage win of the rally, repeating his 2022 success in Riyadh. Lategan’s Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Guy Botterill finished second, 1 minute and 47 seconds adrift, while Mathieu Serradori completed the stage podium, 4 minutes and 4 seconds behind the winner. The stage victory allowed Lategan to extend his overall lead to 5 minutes and 41 seconds over Yazeed Al Rajhi, with Mattias Ekstrom and Nasser Al-Attiyah now trailing by 28 minutes and 55 seconds and 34 minutes and 14 seconds, respectively.
Navarro Shines in Challenger Class
The Challenger class saw a new stage winner, with 19-year-old Spaniard Pau Navarro claiming his maiden Dakar stage victory by 1 minute and 23 seconds over Paul Spierings. Despite the close battle, Nicolas Cavigliasso maintains a comfortable lead of 25 minutes and 49 seconds over Gonçalo Guerreiro in the overall standings.
Heger Extends SSV Lead, Macik Dominates Trucks
American Brock Heger continued his consistent performance in the SSV category, extending his lead to 1 hour and 41 minutes over Xavier de Soultrait. Meanwhile, Jeremias Gonzales Ferioli claimed his second consecutive stage win.
In the truck category, Martin Macik secured his fourth stage victory, increasing his advantage to 2 hours and 29 minutes over Mitchel van den Brink, with Ales Loprais now just 7 minutes further adrift in third.
Serradori Impresses in CR7 T1+
French driver Mathieu Serradori continued to showcase the competitiveness of the CR7 T1+ vehicle, developed in collaboration with South Africa’s Century 21 team. Serradori’s third-place finish on Stage 8 puts him within striking distance of the top five overall, while his teammate Brian Baragwanath finished fourth on the stage, underlining the car’s potential.
Looking Ahead
As the Dakar Rally enters its final stages, the battle for supremacy in all categories is set to intensify. Stage 9 will see competitors tackle a relatively short 357-kilometer timed special between Riyadh and Haradh, with starting positions playing a crucial role in the outcome.
Overall Standings After Stage 8
Bike:
- Daniel Sanders (AUS) – 44:26.52
- Tosha Schareina (ESP) – +11.03
- Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) – +21.31
- Luciano Benavides (ARG) – +30.48
- Edgar Canet (ESP) – +1:21.02
Ultimate:
- Henk Lategan (ZAF) – 42:05.02
- Yazeed Al Rajhi (SAU) – +5.41
- Mattias Ekström (SWE) – +28.55
- Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT) – +34.14
- Mitch Guthrie Jr. (USA) – +55.39
Challenger:
- Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) – 46:08.33
- Gonçalo Guerreiro (POR) – +25.49
- Paul Spierings (NLD) – +32.54
- Pau Navarro (ESP) – +1:40.35
- Corbin Leaverton (USA) – +3:52.01
SSV:
- Brock Heger (USA) – 47:33.59
- Xavier de Soultrait (FRA) – +1:41.26
- Francisco López (CHL) – +2:05.49
