Stage 8 of the 2024 Dakar Rally was filled with significant achievements and strategic plays by the competitors. In the bike category, Kevin Benavides clinched victory, marking his second win of this year's event. His brother, Luciano Benavides, also had an impressive performance, finishing just 31 seconds behind him. Honda's Adrien Van Beveren finished third, slightly over a minute behind Kevin. This stage saw strategic maneuvering among riders, with some slowing down in anticipation of the challenging days ahead. One of the highlights of the stage was the historic win by India's Harith Noah in the Rally 2 class, becoming the first Indian competitor to win a Dakar stage in any category. Despite finishing 11th overall in the stage, he led the Rally 2 category from the start, earning a significant achievement for both himself and his Sherco team. In the car category, Audi had a remarkable day with Mattias Ekström taking the stage win despite a penalty, followed by Stéphane Peterhansel and Guerlain Chicherit in third. Carlos Sainz finished fourth, maintaining a solid lead in the overall standings over Sebastien Loeb, who lost time towards the end of the stage. Overall, the rally continues to be a tight contest, with strategic decisions playing a crucial role in the outcomes of each stage. Ricky Brabec leads the overall bike standings, while Carlos Sainz maintains his lead in the car category. The rally's next stage promises to bring more excitement and challenges as competitors race across varied terrains​ https://new.enduro21.com/en/racing/latest/rally/2024-dakar-results-stage-8-kevin-benavides-wins-the-day-as-riders-play-tactics