Dakar Rally 2020: Serradori wins stage 8, Alonso second, Sainz leads

Bengaluru, January 14: Spain’s former Formula One world champion Fernando Alonso registered his best result of the Dakar 2020 finishing second on stage 8 which was won by behind Frenchman Mathieu Serradori even as Carlos Sainz continues to lead the rally. Defending champion Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah Al Attiyah finished 11th place, but the Qatari but managed to close in on Sainz who came in 15th. Sainz’s overall lead over Al Attiyah is 6:40 and he is ahead of France’s 13-time champion Stephane Peterhansel by 13:09.

The motorbike and quadbike categories were cancelled for the stage, a 477km loop incorporating straight sections with several chains of dunes to test handling skills. “I’d like to dedicate this victory to Paulo because I’m a former biker,” said Serradori, an amateur who drives an SRT. “It’s not easy to get motivated after a day like that and my co-pilot Fabien was there as well. But there are two fighters in the car and I’m very happy with this result.” Serradori finished 4min 4sec ahead of Toyota’s Alonso, with Argentinean Mini driver Orlando Terranova in third, at 6:19. Tuesday’s (January 14) stage 9 sees the cavalcade travel to the eastern town of Haradh on a 410km special.