AL-ATTIYAH REMAINS THE DAKAR RALLY DRIVER TO BEAT FOR THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

With an advantage of 4m47s starting the 483-kilometre loop stage around Wadi ad-Dawasir, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin remain at the head of the pack by 4m00s with five days left after they posted today’s (Monday) fifth quickest time.

From 11th on the road, Al-Attiyah/Lurquin were up to second with 140 kilometres of Stage 8 remaining. However, a navigation issue caused a delay of approximately two minutes, leaving them unable to fight for the leading stage positions, nor increase their overall margin.

It was a Monday of mixed fortunes for Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger. Although they continue to occupy sixth in overall, they lost approximately three minutes after experiencing navigational problems of their own.

They had led the stage order at the 223km checkpoint from their starting position of sixth, but their delay restricted them to the eighth fastest time and means they trail Al-Attiyah/Lurquin by 17m25s ahead of Stage 9.

Monday’s eighth stage was all about variety. After a high-speed start, the route took crews over sections of sand dunes, across sandy tracks through valleys, rocky sections, winding and then more open areas.

World champion Lucas Moraes, a newcomer to The Dacia Sandriders for 2026 along with navigator Dennis Zenz, took 4h27m07s to make it through the varying terrain after an enforced tyre change and a navigation issue held them back. However, they will head into Tuesday’s marathon stage still in ninth overall.

After running fifth on the road today, Moraes/Zenz will benefit from a lower road position on Tuesday.

Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno spent 10 minutes parked on the stage while they attempted to repair a powersteering fault that had struck their Dacia Sandrider. Without the possibility to do so in the time and with the resources available, the Spaniards were forced to complete the final 100 kilometres of the stage – and the subsequent road section – without any assisted steering. Gutiérrez also reported a power problem earlier in the stage.

In addition to Moraes/Zenz joining its all-star line-up for 2026, The Dacia Sandriders has made several key upgrades to its event-winning Dacia Sandrider, which continues to be powered by sustainable fuel from Aramco and equipped with BFGoodrich tyres. The upgrades are focused on weight reduction, cooling efficiency, visibility, reliability and driver comfort. Meanwhile, a refreshed colour scheme, which includes more orange for a sharper look, was revealed ahead of the Dakar Rally.

KEY QUOTES

NASSER AL-ATTIYAH (QATAR), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

Today was a good day but it was not easy. The longest day of the Dakar Rally and a long stage. We did a good job, but we get a little bit lost in one place. It was okay because we recover again. I’m happy with the performance and tomorrow we can start in a good position.

CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ (SPAIN), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

We were fighting a bit with the power of the car, there seems to be something with the power. We struggled a bit at the beginning but then we took a good rhythm. But 100 kilometres before the finish we didn’t have powersteering. We stopped to see if we can repair, stopping for 10 minutes to check everything to see if we can repair. Finally, we decided to continue without powersteering and it was hard for me because to drive a car of 2.2 tonnes without powersteering is crazy. Happy to be here in surviving mode and happy to start again tomorrow for the marathon.

SÉBASTIEN LOEB (FRANCE), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

The day was okay, we pushed all the stage, we did a very good stage, it’s very close between everybody. We made a mistake in the navigation 80 kilometres from the end where we lost between two and three minutes. Except of that it was a good stage. The pace was good, just a mistake but the rest was okay.

LUCAS MORAES (BRAZIL), DRIVER, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

Not an easy day for us. To be honest I was happy with the pace. If you remove the navigation mistake that we did, and also the tyre change for the puncture, is exactly the time we lost during the stage. The pace is there, we just need to put it all together to win one of these stages. We’re still ninth, 26 minutes from the lead so it’s crazy-close. We have a marathon stage ahead of us and anything can happen.

FABIAN LURQUIN (BELGIUM), NAVIGATOR, THE DACIA SANDRIDERS

That was the longest stage of the rally. We did a good stage altogether, good pace, we catch Nani Roma halfway through. But then we lose a little bit of time with the navigation, something like two minutes. Of course we didn’t do it on purpose, but it puts us in a good position to start tomorrow and to have a good stage when we will start the marathon stage in the right way. We push and we try to stay in the front.

DAKAR RALLY STAGE 8 RESULTS (UNOFFICIAL)

Wadi ad-Dawasir-Wadi ad-Dawasir

Stage distance: 483km Liaison distance: 238km Total distance: 721km

5th Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL), 4h21m51s

8th Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Édouard Boulanger (FRA), 4h23m37s

16th Lucas Moraes (BRA)/Dennis Zenz (GER), 4h27m07s

26th Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP)/Pablo Moreno (ESP), 4h42m03s

DAKAR RALLY PROVISIONAL ULTIMATE CATEGORY OVERALL RESULTS AFTER STAGE 8 (UNOFFICIAL)

1st Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Fabian Lurquin (BEL), 32h32m06s

6th Sébastien Loeb (FRA)/Édouard Boulanger (FRA), +17m25s

9th Lucas Moraes (BRA)/Dennis Zenz (GER), +29m55s

14th Cristina Gutiérrez (ESP)/Pablo Moreno (ESP), +59m46s

DAKAR RALLY: THE BIG NUMBER

483: At 483 timed kilometres no stage on the 2026 Dakar Rally route was longer than today’s loop around Wadi ad-Dawasir.

THE DAY AHEAD: STAGE 9, JANUARY 13

A “test of endurance both physical, mental and mechanical” is how the organisers have described part one of the 2026 Dakar Rally’s second marathon stage, which starts from Wadi ad Dawasir on Tuesday and finishes at the marathon refuge point 540 kilometres to the north.

That’s due to tracks that are “rocky and treacherous, requiring both speed and composure during numerous changes of pace”. As with the first marathon stage last week, the car and motorcycle competitors tackle separate courses. Stage 9 also includes a pitstop where teams can change tyres and carry out minor repairs.

Stage distance: 410km Liaison distance: 122km Total distance: 532km