Argentine Luciano Benavides was a big mover during Monday's Stage 8 as he won by over two minutes, while also stopping to check on Pablo Quintanilla who crashed 133km into the stage. Thankfully, after calling for medical assistance,

That means that TGRSA only has Saood Variawa and co-driver Francois left to support Lategan and Cummings. Giniel de Villiers threw in the towel in his last race after navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz suffered a neck injury.

Saudi Arabia's local hero Yazeed Al-Rajhi is in the overall lead for the first time at this year's Dakar Rally after finishing third in stage nine on Tuesday, taking over from Henk Lategan who suffered two punctures.

Al Rajhi and Gottschalk took advantage of a favourable road position, recording the third-fastest time of the day.

Toyota's Henk Lategan dominated stage eight of the Dakar Rally on Monday, and despite a speed violation, the win extended his overall lead after the previous day's chaotic race had virtually wiped out his advantage over closest rival Yazeed Al-Rajhi.

Sunday's Stage 7 loop around the Al Duwadimi bivouac saw confusion cloud the front of the Ultimate class due to an incorrect note in the roadbook. The leading group, including Nasser Al-Attiyah and Guillaume De Mévius,

A brilliant five-hour drive to the Saudi Arabia capital earned Dakar Rally leader Henk Lategan the stage win and breathing room on Monday. While every other driver grizzled about how tough navigating the 488-kilometer eighth stage from Al Duwadimi to Riyadh was,