Torrential rain brought chaos to the Dakar Rally on Saturday after rivers overflowed and tracks were blocked, leaving most drivers stranded on the eighth stage between Salta and Tucuman.

Only 12 competitors in the car section of the gruelling event had made it to the finish before violent storms returned to lash the race on a stage which had already been curtailed because of earlier rains.

“The stewards are currently meeting to decide on the next step,” race director David Castera told AFP.

David Casteu took the overall lead in the rain-hit motorcycling section after long-time leader Olivier Pain endured a miserable eighth stage.

Joan Barreda Bort claimed the 183km timed run in 2hr 7min 26sec, ahead of America’s Johnny Campbell, who was 7min 4sec behind, with Slovakia’s Ivan Jakes in third, 7min 57sec off the pace.

Torrential rain led to the early part of the planned stage, which had been set for 492km, being cancelled.

Casteu, on a Yamaha, has a 9min 26sec overall lead over defending champion Cyril Despres and an 11min 16sec advantage over Portugal’s Ruben Faria.

Pain finished more than 30 minutes off the pace and is fifth overall, 16min 10sec behind Casteu in the race for the title.

Pain was one of a batch of riders who became lost at the 122km stage.

“A huge navigational success,” said Casteu. “I’m over the moon because it’s difficult to ride at the front while attacking and keeping your bearings, navigating.

“I was able to keep my cool while everyone else was spinning around, but I stayed focused and was the first across the line.”