Pictures by Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull Content Pool
Text by Mike Charopka

Navigational Chaos and Fierce Battles in Riyadh

Stage 8 brought competitors south of Riyadh into a navigation gauntlet. A tangle of tracks and off-piste routes tested navigators’ mettle, with a road book error adding to the chaos. The day’s 480+ kilometers of dunes and rocky terrain rewarded precision and adaptability, leaving the leaderboard shaken.

Ford vs. Dacia

The rivalry between Ford and Dacia continues to heat up. Mattias Ekström, piloting the M-Sport Ford, struggled with opening the stage, losing valuable time to Nasser Al-Attiyah’s Dacia. The Qatari star leveraged his starting position to claw back over four minutes, reducing the gap to just above 4 minutes overall. Ekström acknowledged the challenge, noting the difficulty of navigating without tracks ahead and the risk of getting lost. The battle for third place is a nail-biter as both teams prepare for the Empty Quarter.

Bikers

The American bikers endured a challenging day, with Ricky Brabec holding steady in the top five despite the chaotic navigation. The injury of Pablo Quintanilla highlighted the stage’s perilous nature, while Daniel Sanders remains the overall leader. With the Empty Quarter looming, the pressure intensifies for riders to avoid mistakes and maintain their standings.

Cars

Henk Lategan of Toyota secured his second stage win but voiced concerns about opening the road on the next stage. His main rival, Yazeed Al Rajhi, trails by over five minutes, keeping the Toyota Gazoo team cautious. Mitch Guthrie Jr., also in a Ford, fought through tough conditions, holding onto a competitive spot in the rankings, despite time losses early in the stage.

Challenger

Teenage sensation Pau Navarro claimed his first stage win in the Challenger class, marking a breakthrough moment. However, Nicolas Cavigliasso remains untouchable at the top, holding a comfortable lead over his competitors.

SSV

Brock Heger continues to shine in his Dakar debut, demonstrating consistency and skill that belies his rookie status. With a commanding lead of over an hour and 41 minutes in the SSV class, Heger’s approach prioritizes reliability over stage victories—a strategy proving successful. His smooth handling of the grueling terrain has made him a standout of the 2025 Dakar.

Stay tuned as the race enters its decisive stages, where the dunes of the Empty Quarter will determine champions and challengers alike.

CHECK THE RESULTS ON THE OFFICIAL DAKAR DAKAR RALLY WEBSITE: https://www.dakar.live.worldrallyraidchampionship.com/en/car/8/standings

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