The 2024 Dakar is still not a good place for the X-raid team. Krzysztof Holowczyc and Lukasz Kurzeja finished the eighth stage to Ha’il in 21st place in the MINI JCW Rally Plus. Vaidotas Zala and Paulo Fiuza had to settle for 45th place in the Ultimate classification. Annett Quandt and Annie Seel finished 29th in the Challenger classification in the X-raid 1000R Turbo.
As Holowczyc and Kurzeja no longer have a chance of a top position, they are no longer taking full risks. They want to finish the Dakar and get through the stages without any problems. So today they finished in midfield in 21st place.
Shortly after the start of the 458-kilometre stage, Zala and Fiuza had to stop to change the V-belt. The mechanics had fitted a new one the evening before. The duo was unable to make up the lost time and crossed the finish line in 45th position.
Pál Lonyai had decided to retire from the Dakar early last night. The Hungarian had already complained of neck pain on the sixth stage after hitting a dune. This recurred on yesterday’s seventh stage. In order not to take any health risks, he withdrew his participation with a heavy heart.
Tomorrow the Dakar armada heads to Al Ula. The 417 kilometres of the ninth stage are a mixture of a few dunes, sand and gravel roads. There are still four days left on the programme
Quotes from the drivers
Vaidotas Zala (#214 MINI JCW Rally Plus):
“Unfortunately another day to forget. We had to stop and change the alternator belt. I’m lucky to have a co-driver who is a good mechanic.”
Krzysztof Holowczyc (#217 MINI JCW Rally Plus):
“The first half of the stage was not very easy. High dunes and lots of hits on the rear axle. I didn’t like that so much. The second part, on the other hand, was nice. Technical, with fast passages and stony sections. You don’t just ride up-down-up-down, but also turn right or left again. Our goal is to finish the Dakar!”
Dakar 2024 – result SS8 (Ultimate-class)
1. M. Ekström / E. Bergkvist – Audi – 3h 17m 15s
2. S. Peterhansel / E. Boulanger – Audi – 3h 20m 00s
3. G. Chicherit / A. Winocq – Toyota – 3h 20m 25s
4. C. Sainz / L. Cruz – Audi – 3h 22m 38s
5. S. Quintero / D. Zenz – Toyota – 3h 25m 07s
…
21. K. Holowczyc / L. Kurzeja – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 3h 38m 15s
…
45. V. Zala / P. Fiuza – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 4h 36m 49s
Overall standings (Ultimate-class)
1. C. Sainz / L. Cruz – Audi – 33h 29m 10s
2. S. Loeb / F. Lurquin – Prodrive – 33h 53m 57s
3. L. Moraes / A. Monleon – Toyota – 34h 34m 23s
4. G. de Mevius / X. Panseri – Toyota – 35h 03m 28s
5. G. de Villiers / D. Murphy – Toyota – 35h 14m 22s
…
43. V. Zala / P. Fiuza – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 89h 17m 36s
…
50. K. Holowczyc / L. Kurzeja – MINI JCW Rally Plus – 120h 54m 30s
Dakar 2024 result SS8 (Challenger-class)
1. S. Alsaif / N. Alkuwari – OT3 – 3h 35m 28s
2. M. Guthrie / K. Walch – Taurus – 3h 38m 50s
3. C. Gutierrez / P. Moreno – Taurus – 3h 39m 17s
4. F. Lopez / J. Latrach – Can-Am – 3h 41m 25s
5. N. Cavigliasso / V. Pertegarini – Taurus – 3h 43m 03s
…
29. A. Quandt / A. Seel – X-raid 1000R Turbo – 5h 40m 41s
Overall standings (Challenger-class)
1. M. Guthrie / K. Walch – Taurus – 37h 08m 19s
2. C. Gutierrez / P. Moreno – Taurus – 37h 42m 22s
3. F. Lopez / J. Latrach – Can-Am – 37h 51m 10s
4. R. Baciuska / O. Vidal – Can-Am – 38h 36m 58s
5. A. Jones / G. Gugelmin – Can-Am – 38h 39m 49s
20. A. Quandt / A. Seel – X-raid 1000R Turbo – 56h 56m 27s
