Now Reading: Defender Rally Wins Stock Class on Dakar Debut, Finishes First and Second
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Defender Rally Wins Stock Class on Dakar Debut, Finishes First and Second
Defender Rally has made a strong first impression at the 2026 Dakar Rally, securing a debut victory in the Stock class and finishing first and second in one of the world’s toughest motorsport events.
Drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal claimed the Stock class win with an overall time of 58 hours, 9 minutes and 45 seconds in the Defender Dakar D7X-R. Teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman followed closely in second place, while Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Mika Metge finished fourth.
The 2026 Dakar Rally, held across Saudi Arabia, marked the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Over 14 days, the three Defender Rally crews covered a combined distance of approximately 24,000 kilometres, often across extreme terrain. The team achieved podium finishes across 10 of the 13 stages, highlighting consistency as much as outright pace.
Defender Rally competed with the Defender Dakar D7X-R, a production-based vehicle derived from the Defender OCTA and entered in the Stock category. While closely related to the road-going model, the Dakar version features modifications suited to rally-raid competition, including increased ride height, wider track and upgraded suspension and cooling systems.
The result represents a milestone for Defender Rally, which entered the Dakar for the first time in 2026. The team has confirmed it will continue its campaign in the World Rally-Raid Championship, with its next outing scheduled at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal from 17–22 March 2026.
