Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Xavi Ribas score a perfect 30 points after winning the eighth stage in Sport Mode and taking the Launch Control.
The MAN 6x6 crew now holds a 21-point lead over the second-placed team in the overall standings of their category.
Juvanteny: “It was a very intense day. We had to push hard because navigation was difficult, but we achieved a great result that reflects the work of the whole team.”
The KH-7 ECOVERGY Team continues to set the pace in Mission 1000 with another outstanding performance in the eighth stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally. Jordi Juvanteny, José Luis Criado and Xavi Ribas claimed a commanding victory and confirmed their dominance in the category, after being the only crew able to run in Sport Mode.
The crew of the MAN 6x6 hydrogen-electric hybrid completed the 100 kilometres timed loop starting and finishing in Wadi ad Dawasir in 1 hour, 25 minutes and 48 seconds, significantly improving on the 1h 40’ benchmark set by the organisers. That performance earned them 10 bonus points for the driving mode, plus 10 points for finishing the stage. A further 10 points were added thanks to the acceleration test, or Launch Control.
With this maximum haul of 30 points, the Spanish team has opened up an important gap in the overall standings. If after stage seven their advantage over their closest pursuer was seven points, today the KH-7 ECOVERGY Team took another step towards the title by increasing that margin to 21.
“It was a very intense day, with a bit of everything: fast sections, canyons, rocky stretches and sandy valleys. We had to give it everything because navigation was difficult and we couldn’t afford any mistakes. The truck ran perfectly, we kept the pace very high and we completed a very solid day. The result reflects the great work of the whole team,” said driver Jordi Juvanteny.
On stage nine, the rally heads to Bisha from Wadi ad Dawasir over a total distance of 407 kilometres, 80 of which will be timed, where the KH-7 ECOVERGY Team’s goal will be to defend its sizeable lead at the top of Mission 1000.
Source: KH-7 ECOVERGY Team
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