Racers are pushed to their limits in Stage 8 of Taklimakan Rally

The Taklimakan Rally in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region entered Stage 8 on Friday and racers were pushed to their limits while they began to understand why it was widely regarded as one of the toughest stages of this year's event.

The 338-kilometer stretch cuts deep into the Taklimakan Desert, confronting drivers with extreme heat, sandstorms and rapidly shifting light. For motorcyclists, it was the most grueling challenge yet. Shi Haoyu of the Hoto Factory Racing Team clocked the fastest stage time, but his teammate, Czech rider Martin Michek, remained the overall leader.

Meanwhile in the car category, Tao Yongming and navigator Shen Xin from the Hebei Qian'an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club topped the stage. With two more days of racing through the N39 Desert Scenic Area in Makit County, Kashgar Prefecture, still ahead, victory – or defeat – will rest in the hands of those who can endure the final stretches.