Saood Variawa Makes History on Dakar Stage 8 as Toyota Dominates Wadi Ad-Dawasir

Dakar 2026, Sportrik Media – Rising star Saood Variawa claimed the first Dakar stage win of his career on Stage 8 of the Dakar Rally 2026, delivering a stunning performance for Toyota Gazoo Racing on the punishing loop stage around Wadi Ad-Dawasir.

The 481-kilometre special was one of the most technically demanding of the rally so far, combining vast dune fields, soft fesh-fesh sand and complex navigation through the heart of the Empty Quarter. From the opening waypoint, Variawa set an aggressive pace in his Toyota Hilux T1+, immediately putting pressure on the more experienced Dakar frontrunners.

A tense Toyota duel

The main battle of Stage 8 unfolded not between rival manufacturers, but inside the Toyota camp itself. Championship leader Henk Lategan was locked in a stage-long duel with Variawa, with the two drivers exchanging fastest times across multiple split points.

Lategan’s consistency kept him in contention throughout the day, but it was Variawa who found the decisive advantage in the final sector. In the fine, powdery sand that often traps even the most seasoned Dakar crews, Variawa maintained superior momentum and cleaner lines, allowing him to edge clear and secure victory by a narrow margin.

For Toyota, the result underlined not only the pace of the Hilux T1+, but also the depth of its driver line-up as the team now fields two drivers capable of winning outright on pure performance.

Al-Attiyah plays the long game

While the Toyota drivers fought for the stage, reigning Dakar champion Nasser Al-Attiyah took a more calculated approach in his Dacia Sandriders machine. The Qatari star avoided pushing for outright victory in order to minimise the risk of having to open the road on the following day, a tactical disadvantage in soft desert terrain.

Despite not targeting the stage win, Al-Attiyah still finished inside the top three, preserving his strong position in the overall classification and continuing to apply pressure to Lategan as the rally enters its most critical phase.

Wadi Ad-Dawasir: a Dakar classic

The loop stage around Wadi Ad-Dawasir once again proved why it is one of the most feared locations on the Dakar route. With extreme heat, shifting dunes and constant navigational traps, crews were forced to balance speed against survival.

“Today was all about trusting the notes from my co-driver and keeping momentum in the sand,” Variawa explained at the bivouac. His measured yet aggressive approach was key to surviving the worst of the fesh-fesh and securing his breakthrough victory.

Stage 8 results – Ultimate category

1. Saood Variawa – Toyota Gazoo Racing
2. Henk Lategan – Toyota Gazoo Racing
3. Nasser Al-Attiyah – Dacia Sandriders

What it means for the Dakar 2026 battle

Variawa’s first Dakar stage win gives Toyota a powerful boost heading into the marathon stages, where crews must complete the day without mechanical assistance from their teams. With two Toyotas at the sharp end of the classification and Al-Attiyah lurking close behind, the fight for the overall title is 

finely balanced.

The internal rivalry between Variawa and Lategan now adds an extra layer of intrigue for Toyota’s management, who must weigh team strategy against allowing their drivers to race freely.

Fans can follow every stage, including full schedules and upcoming challenges, via the official Dakar 2026 calendar at:
👉 https://sportrik.com/dakar/calendar

With the rally moving into its decisive phase, Stage 8 at Wadi Ad-Dawasir may be remembered as the day a new Dakar star truly announced himself at https://sportrik.com/en.