A thrilling victory in the Wadi Ad Dawasir dunes highlights a resilient day for South African crews as Dakar 2026 heads into the second Marathon Stage.
Saudi Arabia (13 January 2026) – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa is on a roll, producing a rewarding performance on Stage 8 of the 2026 Dakar Rally, a brutal loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir that tested crews with a mix of towering dunes, rocky canyons and fast riverbeds.
Once again, the day belonged to Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet, who delivered a superb drive to claim a hard-earned stage victory. Their reward came in dramatic fashion, crossing the line just three seconds clear of their nearest rivals.
Saood described the stage as one of the more demanding tests of the rally so far. The win marks their second stage victory of the rally and moves the duo up to 13th overall as Dakar enters a decisive phase.
Francois echoed the sentiment, highlighting the importance of precision and consistency over such a varied and technical route, where mistakes could be costly.
Elsewhere in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing South Africa camp, João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro faced a tougher day but showed resilience to bring their car home safely. Their run was compromised early by a puncture just a few kilometres into the stage, forcing them to adapt their approach while running near the front of the field with limited visibility.
Despite the setback, the duo managed conditions carefully to finish 17th on the stage, remaining firmly inside the top 10 overall in 10th place, just over 35 minutes off the rally lead. With the second Marathon Stage looming, their focus now shifts to preparation and strategy.
They managed conditions carefully to finish 17th on the stage, remaining firmly inside the top 10 overall in 10th place, just over 35 minutes off the rally lead. With the second Marathon Stage looming, their focus now shifts to preparation and strategy. The pair ran competitively through the first half of the loop before a slow puncture and increasingly complex navigation cost them valuable time towards the end.
With Stage 8 complete, attention now turns to Stage 9, the opening leg of the second Marathon Stage of Dakar 2026. The route will take crews from Wadi Ad Dawasir to the Marathon bivouac via a 410km special stage, with no service assistance awaiting them at the finish.
Stage 9 will place a premium on navigation, mechanical sympathy and smart decision-making, as crews prepare to service their own cars overnight before tackling the second half of the Marathon.
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