This marked the start of the rally’s second half – a pivotal stretch for South Africa’s hopefuls as the desert challenge intensifies.

Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa once again demonstrated resilience, with all three crews enduring another punishing day in the dunes. Following a strong showing in Stage 7, where João Ferreira and Filipe Palmeiro secured an impressive second place, the Portuguese pairing continues to spearhead the local effort. They now sit 11th overall, holding their own amid fierce competition.

Ferreira described the fast, flowing dunes as demanding absolute precision and unwavering focus. Their clean run has lifted team spirits as the rally ventures deeper into terrain that will push both drivers and machines to their limits.

Elsewhere in the camp, Guy Botterill and Oriol Mena fought back after an early puncture compromised their pace in Stage 7. Prioritising tyre management over outright speed, they finished 17th overall. Meanwhile, Saood Variawa and Francois Cazalet endured a challenging day plagued by punctures, navigation setbacks and a damper issue that required on-the-spot repairs.

On the overall leaderboard, Henk Lategan briefly threatened to rewrite the script during Stage 7, leading for much of the day before mechanical gremlins struck late on. His misfortune allowed seasoned campaigner Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar to reclaim the top spot. Lategan remains firmly in contention, albeit outside the podium places, and carries valuable experience into the demanding stages ahead.

South African motorsport also celebrated a landmark moment earlier in the rally when Puck Klaassen claimed a historic stage victory in the Challenger category, only the fifth woman ever to achieve such a feat at Dakar.

With six stages remaining, including another dreaded Marathon stage where overnight mechanical assistance is banned, navigation skill and mechanical reliability will be decisive. For South Africa’s crews, the mission is clear: seize every opportunity, master the dunes, and fight for strong finishes in one of the toughest tests in global motorsport.

Dakar Rally 2026 – Overall Standings (After Stage 7)

South African Outlook:

• Henk Lategan remains the nation’s best hope, still within striking distance of the podium.
• All three Toyota Gazoo Racing SA entries are running strongly despite punctures and mechanical setbacks.
• With towering dunes and a second Marathon stage looming, expect reliability and navigation to play kingmaker in the days ahead.