Is This Finally Benavides’ Year?
Sometimes, all it takes is ten days to turn predictions on their head.
Less than a fortnight ago, the script seemed obvious. Daniel Sanders versus Tosha Schareina—two riders who had dominated the 2025 season—were widely tipped to fight it out for Dakar glory. Luciano Benavides? Mentioned, yes—but only as an outsider.
Fast forward to today, and that outsider has stolen the spotlight.
Benavides delivered another masterclass on the longest stage of this year’s rally, a brutal 483-kilometre solo test that rewarded precision, stamina, and nerve. The Argentine was flawless from start to finish, sweeping up every available time bonus (a hefty 7’28’’), claiming his third stage win of the 2026 Dakar, and—most importantly—seizing the overall lead. He now sits just 10 seconds ahead of his Red Bull KTM team-mate Daniel Sanders, a clear signal that he has stepped into a new dimension.
Of course, nothing is settled yet. With margins this tight, Yanbu is still a distant dream rather than a guaranteed destination. Sanders, second on the day and breathing down Benavides’ neck, has every reason to stay confident. And KTM’s duel will be watched closely by Monster Energy Honda HRC, where Ricky Brabec lurks in third place, 4’47’’ back, while Schareina—despite a daunting 20-minute deficit—refuses to be written off entirely.
In Rally 2, drama struck late. Mike Docherty’s misfortune, likely the result of a crash near the end of the special, opened the door for Neels Theric, who claimed his third class victory of the year aboard his Kove. Preston Campbell remains the overall leader, but Toni Mulec has clawed back two minutes and now sits just 9’36’’ behind. Every second counts.
Variawa Wins by a Whisker
A 20-year-old winning at the very top of the Dakar? At this point, it barely raises an eyebrow.
Saood Variawa continues to redefine what’s possible. Already the youngest winner in Dakar history in the car category, the South African produced a stunning charge today. Starting 26th on the road, he steadily carved his way through the field, climbing the leaderboard checkpoint by checkpoint before snatching victory by a mere three seconds.
His closest rival? Fellow South African Henk Lategan, also in a Toyota Hilux. On a lightning-fast route where margins were razor-thin, seven vehicles finished within two minutes—leaving zero room for error.
That intensity forced the overall contenders to attack. While Dakar wisdom still preaches patience and survival, today’s one-minute gain by Lategan over Nasser Al-Attiyah could prove crucial. Lategan posted the second-fastest time on the Wadi ad Dawasir loop—this year’s longest special—and climbed onto the provisional podium, now 6’08’’ behind the leader after overtaking Nani Roma.
Mattias Ekström completed the stage podium, 29 seconds off the win, and continues his remarkable run of consistency. The Swede has strengthened his second place overall in the Ford Raptor, now just four minutes behind Al-Attiyah—though starting order may limit further gains in the next stage.
After Stage 8, the leaderboard is tighter than it was on the rest day. Carlos Sainz, third-best Raptor driver, sits 10’39’’ back, while Sébastien Loeb remains firmly in contention in sixth, within 17 minutes of his Dacia team-mate.
De Soultrait’s Dakar Turns Sour
Xavier de Soultrait’s Dakar has taken a brutal turn.
The 2024 SSV winner had looked strong early on, once again positioning himself as the closest challenger to team-mate Brock Heger. But trouble began before the rest day, when he limped into Riyadh on a towrope after his engine failed just beyond the finish line. Disaster was narrowly avoided, thanks to a heroic overnight repair effort that spared him a 20-hour penalty.
The second week brought no relief. A worrying noise on the liaison set the tone, and De Soultrait spent the day without four-wheel drive, losing more than 25 minutes and surrendering second place overall.
Already trailing by nearly 45 minutes this morning, a collision on the special with Bruno Saby cost him another 40 minutes. He now sits fourth overall, 1:25’11’’ behind the leader.
Still, the Frenchman refuses to give up:
“We haven’t lost hope for the final podium. We only have two Polaris cars left to put on the podium—and that’s our mission. We’ve paid our dues to the Dakar. Now it’s time for things to go right.”
A Golden Day for South Africa
Today marked the fourth South African one-two finish in Dakar car history, thanks to Variawa and Lategan.
The legacy runs deep. Last year, Lategan won a stage ahead of Guy Botterill. In 2022, Giniel de Villiers topped a Wadi ad Dawasir loop ahead of Lategan. A year earlier, De Villiers led another historic double with Brian Baragwanath.
De Villiers—the godfather of South African rally-raid—set the benchmark. Debuting in 2003, Dakar winner in 2009, and owner of an astonishing 21 consecutive finishes, he placed in the top five fifteen times, including eight podiums. His influence is unmistakable.
That legacy lives on. Lategan already has five Dakar stage wins to his name, while Variawa added a second in what is still a very young career. After finishing second overall in 2025, Lategan is determined to follow directly in De Villiers’ footsteps.
Why not on January 17th?
His Hilux has already led this 48th Dakar for 48 hours, and tonight he sits just over six minutes off the top. With South Africa firmly among the “big five” nations still in contention, the road to Yanbu promises fireworks.
The RacerViews info
By Matt Hancock
We are passionate, dedicated motorsport professionals.
In 2026 you will see us trackside and stageside with exclusive coverage of
- The World Endurance Championship
- The World Rally Championship
- Belgian Rally Championship
- British GT
- British Rallycross
- and more!
We aim to bring you interviews and photos you won’t see anywhere else. We don’t aim to break the news, rather we aim to bring the voices of the racers to you and the atmosphere of the event to you at home. Our social media presence on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube bring you more, a holistic experience. We partner with racers and professionals in the industry and give back where we can. If we can help you or you have a story to share, please contact us.
