14 Ene JOSEP PEDRÓ WINS STAGE9 OF THE DAKAR RALLY
Chronicle of Josep Pedró, ISB SPORT Ambassador
Spanish driver Josep Pedró has once again claimed victory in another stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally, on a day marked by challenging terrain and extreme desert conditions.
Our Catalan driver completed the stage in 6 hours, 12 minutes, and 45 seconds. This victory adds to Pedró’s tally, bringing him closer to the top of the overall standings and demonstrating that the combination of experience and preparation is key to mastering one of the most demanding competitions in the world of motorsports.
The Dakar Rally will continue with Stage 10, where the drivers will face new challenges in the desert, seeking to remain in contention for the overall victory.
Stage 8 Overview
The eighth stage, held around Wadi Ad-Dawasir, proved to be one of the most demanding and decisive days of this edition, with over 700km of total distance and 483km of timed special stage.
In the motorcycle category, Argentinian Luciano Benavides dominated a stage marked by dunes, fast tracks, and technical sections, set at an extremely high pace. His victory not only secured him the stage win but also propelled him into the overall lead, just 10 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Australian Daniel Sanders. American Ricky Brabec completed the provisional podium in third place, keeping the pressure on the leaders before the marathon stage.
In the car category, the stage was extremely close and strategic. Saood Variawa took the stage victory, closely followed by Henk Lategan, in a display of speed and tactics on a very competitive course. Five-time champion Nasser Al-Attiyah finished in fifth place, but managed to maintain his overall lead after the day, with only a few minutes’ advantage over his main rivals. Drivers like Carlos Sainz and Nani Roma completed a stage without major incidents, consolidating their positions at the top of the overall standings.
In other categories such as Challenger and Ultimate, there was also significant action with changes in the timesheets and displays of competitiveness among the participants.
This Stage 8, considered one of the longest and toughest of this year’s Dakar Rally, has been key in defining strategies and solidifying the leaders before the race enters its decisive phase.