Home » Stage 8 Dakar Rally: Fourth Win for Macik as Podium Battle Intensifies

Stage 8 Dakar Rally: Fourth Win for Macik as Podium Battle Intensifies

Martin Macik secured his fourth stage victory in this year’s Dakar Rally. Driving his MMT EVO 4, he completed the grueling 489-kilometer stage in 5 hours, 25 minutes, and 22 seconds. Ales Loprais benefited from a penalty handed to Vaidotas Zala, who initially finished second, and moved up to the runner-up position, 5 minutes and 22 seconds behind Macik. Zala and his co-driver Max van Grol ultimately finished third, 6 minutes and 52 seconds adrift of the stage winner.

Dutchman Kees Koolen delivered a strong performance to claim fourth place, finishing just three seconds ahead of Jaroslav Soltys. Meanwhile, Mitchel van den Brink experienced a frustrating day, losing significant time behind a buggy, but managed to cross the line in sixth place. His father, Martin van den Brink, finished seventh, considerably behind the stage leader.


Stage 8 Top 10

1. M. Macik – 5h25m22s

2. A. Loprais +5:22

3. V. Zala +6:52

4. K. Koolen +18:46

5. J. Soltys +18:49

6. M. van den Brink +21:42

7. M. van den Brink (sr.) +41:22

8. M. van den Heuvel +46:23

9. R. de Groot +50:23

10. K. Posledni +1:06:33

Van den Brink Frustrated After Time Loss

Mitchel van den Brink lost as much as 25 minutes due to Puck Klaassen in a buggy, who refused to give way despite clear signals. In an attempt to overtake, Van den Brink drove over a rock, resulting in a punctured tire and a damaged steering damper. After the stage, he confronted her at the neutralization zone. “She responded arrogantly and even said it was ‘karma,’” Van den Brink said. The incident cost him valuable time in the fight for second place in the overall standings, with Ales Loprais now trailing him by just 8 minutes.

Reactions After the Stage

Max van Grol (mechanical Zala, 3rd): “Apart from a few small moments, everything went well today. This is our fifth podium finish in this rally. Hopefully, we can take the top spot later this week.”

Kees Koolen (4th): “The middle section of the stage was fast, but the final part was tough with dust, rocks, and deep ruts.”

Martin van den Brink (7th): “It was a challenging stage with one puncture. We had to take a lot of risks to pass buggies. I completely understand Mitchel’s frustration.”


Overall Standings After Stage 8

Martin Macik maintains his lead in the overall standings. Mitchel van den Brink remains in second, but his advantage over Loprais has been reduced. With several demanding stages ahead, the battle for second place remains intense.

1. M. Macik – 46h45m57s

2. M. van den Brink +2:29:44

3. A. Loprais +2:36:09

4. J. Soltys +5:02:44

5. K. Koolen +5:16:32

6. V. Zala/M. van Grol +6:55:55

7. R. de Groot +8:07:13

8. T. Sugawara +9:28:04

9. A. van Loon +10:00:07

10. T. Vratny +18:04:42

Preview

Stage 9 promises to be a relatively short route, with 357 kilometers of timed racing from Riyadh to Ḥaraḍ. This stage will offer competitors a chance to prepare for the challenging Empty Quarter, where the rally will reach its climax in the coming days.

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