Pakistan, Jan. 13 -- South Africa's Saood Variawa claimed victory in the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally on Monday, edging compatriot Henk Lategan by just three seconds, while overall leader Nasser Al-Attiyah of Qatar retained his lead with a reduced margin in the Saudi Arabian desert.

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The 20-year-old Toyota SA driver completed the 483km loop around Wadi Ad Dawasir in one of the longest stages of the rally. Al-Attiyah, driving for Dacia Sandriders, finished fifth, one minute and 16 seconds behind Variawa. Mattias Ekstrom of Ford took third, while Ford drivers Nani Roma and Carlos Sainz placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

"The car was perfect on a very long...