2026 Dakar Rally – As the official car partner to the Dakar Rally, British adventure brand Defender supports the world’s toughest off-road race in more ways than one.
STAGE 11 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 15 JANUARY
Stage 11 of the Stock class was won today by Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal with a time of 03:28:30, marking their sixth stage win for Defender Rally.
Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge finished Stage 11 in second place, just 49 seconds slower than the winners. Despite leading the stage from a time perspective, Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished in third place after incurring a 30-minute time penalty due a precautionary differential change ahead of today’s competition.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal remain leaders of the Stock class overall rankings.
Defender Rally Drivers thoughts
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was a long day. The stage was 347km and it was a mixture of fast, narrow, twisty, and in the middle were big stones. Again, we have a 1-2-3 Defender result. So, let’s see, two more days go.”
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today had a super long transfer this morning but it was super comfortable. The stage itself was not boring, the beginning was fast, and really nice to drive. The middle of the stage was a little rockier, but it was possible to find a line where it was less rocky, which was interesting. The second part was faster so there was some dust, but overall, we enjoyed a lot of the stage.”
Additional thoughts
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today’s stage was a lot of fun. It was very fast, and we got to just go for it. And so that was really exciting for me. I just needed to get it out of my system to go fast today and we got to do that. Really fast sections going into really tight sections in between trees. We had a lot of dust, so I was just taking like unique routes and just making it fun today.”
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “So today’s stage provided some really varied terrain, which is a brilliant opportunity again to see what the Defender is capable of and to bring home another 1-2-3 for Rokas, Stéphane, and Sara was fantastic. Sara caried a 30-minute penalty due to a differential change, but that still didn’t impact an incredible result. So I’m very proud of the entire team as we head into the final two days, though we have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and make sure that we execute everything to the best of our ability.”
STAGE 10 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 14 JANUARY
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal have won Stage 10 of the 2026 Dakar Rally with a time of 06:09:01, taking their fifth stage win for Defender Rally in the Stock class.
Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished Stage 10 in second position with a time of 06:30:42, whilst Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge set a time of 06:31:27, securing them a third-place position.
In addition to a 1-2-3 finish for Defender Rally after Stage 10, all three crews have successfully completed the gruelling marathon stage, consisting of back-to-back stages without repair or maintenance from the Defender Rally team.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal remain leaders of the Stock class overall rankings.
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was tough, you know, the most difficult stage marathon stage. Oriol managed the stage well, but, you know, it was not easy navigation. But we did it. Let’s see how tomorrow goes, and after tomorrow, as we have more big stages, so let’s keep the car in one piece. I’m happy, just a little bit tired.”
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Stages 9 and 10 were a lot more difficult than I expected. We all thought we’d just get through Stage 9 with no problems, but it turned out 9 was a tough day. It was a very tough navigation day, it tested us and we did get lost but then we found our way, so that was good. Stage 10 was a big dune day, and we knew this was going be a day that shakes things up, and it definitely did for us, but we made it back, and that’s all that matters, so we persevered to keep on the podium.”
From the drivers mouth
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “Yesterday we started well, the first day of the marathon stage, but we had a suspension issue before the pit stop so we lost time. Also, navigation was complicated for everybody, losing us more time like a lot of drivers. Today, we started with a really good car, because we did a good service last night. We decided to stay behind Sara and when we saw her stuck on the dunes for the first time, we pulled her out. After that, in the big dunes she got stuck and we also got stuck. There was a scary moment when a truck arrived and crashed into my car. When we started again, we started together and did all the stage together. I think today there was a really good team spirit. The target was just to bring the cars back, and we did it.”
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “It’s fantastic that Rokas, Sara and Stéphane, along with their talented co-drivers, have safely and successfully completed Stage 10, and with impressive times. Only three stages now remain in this almighty competition – bring it on!”
STAGE 9 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 13 JANUARY
Topping the times in the Stock class in Stage 9 were Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, securing a ninth stage win in a row for Defender Rally. The pair finished the 410km stage in 04:36:24 – a result which also maintains their lead in the Stock class overall rankings. It’s their fourth stage victory.
Americans Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished the stage around 30 minutes later with a time of 5:06:03.
Finishing in fifth place was Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge, with a time of 05:21:36. They were delayed by a front suspension issue early in the stage, though this was soon rectified by the team at the pitstop.
Stage 9 marks the first part of the second marathon of the Dakar Rally, which is a true test of endurance, for both driver and machine. Frequent rocky sections and challenging tracks made up majority of the stage, before a 30km finale of sand dunes. The crews will spend the night camping in the desert, with no team assistance permitted.
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally said: “It’s been a testing couple of days for our team, and a marathon stage adds even more pressure and complexity. So, I’m very glad to hear that all three cars and crews have safely arrived in the refuge bivouac, with Rokas and Oriol putting in an impressive performance. Our drivers will not return to base tonight, as per the unique rules of the marathon, so we look forward to welcoming them back after tomorrow’s stage.”
Stage 10 commences on Wednesday 14 January, in the final day of the final marathon stage.
STAGE 8 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 12 JANUARY
Defender Rally drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal today extended their overall lead in the Stock class through taking their third Stage win.
Rokas and Oriol finished the 483km timed section in 05:06:24, ahead of Defender Rally teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman who finished 01:44 behind. Today’s stage result means Sara and Sean move into second place, currently 02:37:51 behind Rokas and Oriol.
Unfortunately, Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge, who started today’s stage in second place, suffered a snapped alternator drive belt between KP 267 and KP 310. Though still on stage at the time of issuing this advisory, they will soon be en route back to the bivouac with the assistance of a competitor and the team expect them to be able to continue tomorrow.
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said:
“Today’s stage was fast but long. We had a mix of everything, rocks and dunes, but everything was good and Oriol did a really good job. We didn’t spend a lot of time searching for the waypoints so we are happy, but tomorrow’s Marathon stage will be the key point of Dakar.”
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said:
“Today was a really fun stage. It was fast, and our goal was to gain time on Toyota ahead of us. We just learned that we did move up, which was the goal today, but it’s really unfortunate that Stéphane is still out there. But yes, it was a good day for us with not many mistakes and really no issues.”
Jack Lambert, Head of Technical Integration, Defender Rally, said:
“It was great to see Rokas and Oriol take their third stage victory today, and Sara and Sean also had a super strong day moving into second place in the Stock class. However, while we knew every stage in the Dakar would be tough, today was a particularly difficult one for us. Stéphane and Mika’s car suffered an alternator belt failure which stopped them on stage and wasn’t repairable. We’re confident, though, that they’ll be able to continue tomorrow.”
Stage 9 – the first part of the second Marathon stage – takes place on Tuesday 13 January 2026.
STAGE 7 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 11 JANUARY
Defender Rally has secured a further 1-2-3 finish, after Stage 7 saw Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge collect their third stage win in the Stock class, after navigating 459km of dry riverbeds, sand dunes and stone tracks. The pair finished the stage with a time of 04:20:29.
In second place, just 21 seconds slower, came Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (04:20:50), with Sara Price and Sean Berriman in third (04:26:54).
Rokas and Oriol remain atop of the official Stock category rankings, and today’s result has meant Sara and Sean are less than 19 minutes off the third position.
What the drivers have to say
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “It was a different kind of stage. The first week I said we’d seen approximately all the different kind of terrain that we could find, but today it was different. It was super-fast with a very high average speed, and also in the middle there was 50km of dunes. But the dunes were not close all together – they were more open so for our car it was the perfect terrain, the perfect stage. Really fast, nice to jump and today I took a lot of pleasure in driving – it was the perfect stage for the Defender.”
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “The stage today was very nice with some dunes and some rocky sections. It was actually very enjoyable with beautiful landscapes. And, yeah, it was very close with Stefane Peterhansel. I lost 21 seconds to him, but the rest is all good. The team did a good job, and just day-by- day we try to cross the finish line.
More interviews
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was good. We just tried to finish the day and take care of everything, but we did have to take it easy in some parts today to avoid some overheating. We were battling a lot of dust all day and trying to keep it together. But we’ve made good progress, it was a really fast day overall. I’m glad we’ve made some time on the Toyota, so now I just have to keep doing that and just make sure the car gets back to base every day.”
Jack Lambert, Head of Technical Integration, Defender Rally, said: “Today’s stage really suited the Defender Dakar D7X-R, with the crews achieving an average top speed of 105 kilometres per hour which is impressive across a varied and challenging stage. As well as continuing to run first, second and fourth in Stock, stage 7 has demonstrated the capability of the car with the Defender crews in 34th, 35th and 40th in the complete Car category. Overall, a fantastic result for the team and the Stock class.
Stage 8 takes place on Monday 12 January 2026 with a 483km timed stage, as the first half of the marathon stage begins.
Stage 6 – Defender Rally successfully reach halfway mark on 2026 Dakar
- Defender Rally has successfully made it halfway through its debut three-car Dakar Rally entry
- Six stages of the 2026 Dakar Rally are complete, with Defender Rally drivers taking the win on every stage to date in the Defender Dakar D7X-R
- Ahead of tomorrow’s Rest Day, drivers Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price and Rokas Baciuška have won two stages each
- Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal lead the charge in the Stock class overall rankings
- Seven stages remain in the 2026 Dakar, before an overall winner of the Stock class is crowned
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Friday 09 January 2026:
Defender Rally has successfully reached the halfway point of the 2026 Dakar Rally in its debut entry to the world’s most extreme rally-raid, having won all six stages in the Stock class to date.
A skilled trio of drivers and co-drivers, made up of Dakar-legend Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge; Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal; and Sara Price with Sean Berriman, have each achieved two stage wins in the Stock class for production-based cars.
Today’s sixth Stage was the longest of the Dakar Rally with a mammoth 920km (combined timed and liaison sections). American duo Sara Price and Sean Berriman took the win today, overcoming challenging sand dunes, with a time of 04:32:10. Close behind were by Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (04:34:49), followed by Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge (04:35:00).
At halfway, Lithuanian Rokas Baciuška and Spain’s Oriol Vidal remain at the top of the Stock class rankings with an overall time of 29 hours, 12 minutes and 58 seconds. French duo Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge are in second position, with Sara Price and Sean Berriman in fourth.
The drivers compete in the Defender Dakar D7X-R
The drivers compete in the Defender Dakar D7X-R, which is derived from a production Defender OCTA and is built to compete in the ‘Stock’ category of the World Rally-Raid Championship. The rally challenger retains Defender OCTA’s tough D7x body architecture, transmission, driveline and 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, whilst modifications for competition include a wider track, increased ride height, new suspension and enhanced cooling.
Throughout the overall 5,000km two-week endeavour, Defender Rally is supported by official partners: Castrol, YETI, Bilstein, Bell & Ross, Fortnite, and suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars.
Whilst the drivers traverse sand dunes and rocky tracks, a Defender partnership with Epic Games allows gamers globally to digitally drive the Defender Dakar D7X-R, complete with matching livery, on Fortnite and Rocket League.
Driver Comments Stage 6
Jack Lambert, Head of Technical Integration, Defender Rally, said: “What an adventure it’s been so far, and we’re only halfway through. The entire team is working round the clock to ensure our cars, the Defender Dakar D7X-Rs, are performing to the best of their ability. And on top of that, we have three world-class crews that are expertly making their way through some of the most challenging terrain in the Saudi Arabian landscape. To be leading the Stock class rankings at the halfway point is an incredible achievement for the whole team, but we are acutely aware that there is still a very long way to go. The team remain motivated and focused on getting all three cars and crews through to the end, consistency will be key to bringing home all three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs and their crews.”
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was awesome to be in the dunes in the Defender for the first time. I haven’t had that chance yet, so today was kind of an unknown for me going into it. But I love the dunes, I grew up in the dunes, so it’s something I’ve done for fun with my family. The Defender impressed me; I’m blown away with how well it did and I had a lot of fun today. We ended up with the win so that was exciting.”
What the others have to say
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “Overall it was a long day, we were up at 6am and we arrived back to the bivouac late in the evening. Today was totally sandy and there were a lot of dunes, we climbed really well. So far so well, and we are still leading, we just need to keep like this and see if we can do it.”
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “First of all, we’ve now experienced all different kinds of track. So now the last thing we’ve been on is the dunes and the car was really perfect on the dunes, so this is really good news. It was not easy because it was 200km of just dunes, especially some that were very tricky, broken and bumpy, but the big dunes were super nice to do with such a good engine. We managed from the morning until the end of the stage to not get stuck. The target was to bring the car to the end of the stage.”
Seven stages now remain in the 2026 Dakar Rally.
STAGE 5 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 08 JANUARY
The completion of Stage 5 marks the end of the first demanding marathon stage. All three Defender Rally crews successfully brought their Defender Dakar D7X-Rs to the end of the stage.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (#502) achieved the top spot of Stage 5 in the Stock category, winning with a time of 4:29:32. Whilst Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge (#500) finished in second place, just 37 seconds slower.
Americans Sara Price and Sean Berriman (#504) were executing a strong stage, and would have finished the race seven minutes slower than their French teammates, until the pair unfortunately received a 15-minute time penalty towards the end of the 371km stage for missing a waypoint.
Rokas and Oriol remain leaders of the Stock class rankings with a 44 minute and 32 second gap.
Driver Comments
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was a bit rough and stony and there were tricky waypoints, but Oriol did a good job and we found them without any problems. We won this stage and the Marathon Stage goal was to survive, to bring the car back in one piece and finish and we did that. Let’s see, one more day and then rest day, and then second half. Then we’ll see where we are, where we can go and what’s our strategy – at the moment we are safe and can keep rolling.”
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “For the last two days, the strategy was to not start with full attack. We needed to protect the car, because it was the first time driving for two consecutive days without any service or mechanics. So, we started quietly, and except the small problem when we rolled on our side, we didn’t make any mistakes during Stage 4. We only had one puncture, which isn’t a lot.
“Today, Stage 5, we decided to keep the same approach – quiet. No punctures today and we managed to keep up the speed. Towards the end of the Stage, we started to have some small difficulties in navigation – some confusion and hesitation, but we only lost maybe three minutes in total, so it’s not a big loss – which is amazing.
More Driver Comments
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Marathon stage was a successful one. We all made it back in one piece, and we’re back early, so that’s a good thing. Going into the marathon, we had a solid first day. We kept good pace and kept the car together. The car was in really good shape when we got to the marathon bivouac when we went to work on it. Then we pitched our tents and had an okay sleep. We got up, did it again, and today was really great until towards the end for us, then one thing after another kept happening. We have had a bad day due to our fault, so it was a little bit of an emotional day for us at the end. The vehicle was great, but it was some navigation mistakes, and also some flat tyres.”
Jack Lambert, Defender Rally Head of Technical Engineering, said: “It’s been a courageous couple of days from our three crews. Getting all three cars successfully through the first of the two Marathon stages is an important milestone, and seeing Rokas score his second stage win was fantastic. We had no significant issues – aside from the half roll from Stéphane – though the end of today’s stage was tough for Sara and the time penalty frustrating. Ultimately, though, that’s part of the reality of this race. The team are relieved to have all three cars back at the bivouac, and now will focus on preparing the Defender Dakar D7X-Rs for tomorrow’s long stage – the longest in the Rally.
STAGE 4 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 07 JANUARY
Defender Rally have secured a Stage win in the Stock class for the fourth consecutive day.
Stage 4 marked the start of the first marathon, with Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge (#500) winning the timed route in just under six hours (05:52:38).
Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished in second place in today’s stage, just five minutes slower than their French teammates. In third place, Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal achieved a time of 06:04:30.
All three of the Defender Rally duos will not return to the main bivouac overnight, as marathon rules require all competitors to camp remotely without access to the team until they reach the end of the next stage.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal remain at the top of the Stock class rankings, with a gap of 42:36 over the #503 Toyota, Stéphane now in third just 01:19 further back.
Stage 2 Driver Comments
Jack Lambert, Defender Rally Head of Technical Integration, said: “It’s been a really positive stage for us today, a 1, 2, 3 finish for the first half of the first ‘marathon’. For the Defender crews, it couldn’t be better. All three of our cars are safely back in refuge bivouac. There are small number of technical issues across the cars, which the drivers and co-drivers will work on together, but nothing that they can’t resolve with parts and equipment available in the cars for the second half tomorrow. We showed consistent pace across 420km of varied terrain including tough rocky trail sections. So, a really good step forward, great to have the first marathon under way and we’re looking forward to getting going again tomorrow for stage 5”
Stage 5, the second leg of this marathon stage, commences on Thursday 8 January 2026 with 372km special stage.
STAGE 3 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 06 JANUARY
Three drivers, three days and three wins – Defender Rally achieves another 1-2-3 result on Stage 3 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock class. It marks the third day in a row that the new works team have achieved a Stage win, with each driver pair taking a win each.
Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge (#500) completed Stage 3, comprising 422km of timed competition, just shy of the five-hour mark with a time of 04:59:07.
The rest of the Defender Rally duos followed close behind, with Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (#502) completing the Stage in second place, just over a minute slower, whilst Sara Price and Sean Berriman (#504) came third, two and a half minutes after ‘Mr Dakar’.
Rokas and Oriol remain at the top of the Stock category rankings following today’s result.
Stage 3 Driver Comments
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was a good stage, firstly because this was the first victory for Mika and I in the Stock category. It was also a little bit easier to drive as there was less dust than yesterday, and it was a clearer stage. Navigation was perfect from Mika. We did get two punctures but that’s something that happens really often in these conditions.”
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “This stage was quite fast and the last part was stoney so we did get a puncture, even though we weren’t pushing too much. We finished P2 in the stage, and still leading the rankings. We want to keep it like that. Let’s see until the rest day and then see where we are on the second week of the Dakar. But for the moment, everything is going quite okay!”
More Driver Comments
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today’s stage was a lot of fun. There was a lot of flowing tracks, so we got to have a good time out there. Yesterday was a rough day so it was a nice change of scenery. We did have a few setbacks with some punctures, so that was something that put us behind, but I’m really happy to finish the stage in a good position in third place. For Defender, it was a 1-2-3 again. And Stephane, seeing him win was pretty cool. We were back and forth with him all day so it was quite fun battling with our teammates. Overall, it was a good day for us.”
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “It’s been another hugely positive day for the Defender Rally team. ‘Mr Dakar’, Stéphane Peterhansel, has lived up to his title by adding another stage win to his name. But it was also great to see all three of the Defender Dakar D7X-Rs performing so closely together and really demonstrating the capabilities of the car as they scaled the sandy tracks. Tomorrow is a new challenge as we take on the first of two marathon stages so I look forward to seeing what that throws our way.”
Stage 4 takes place on Wednesday 7 January 2026 with a 451km timed stage, as the first half of the marathon stage begins.
STAGE 2 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 05 JANUARY
Defender Rally achieves a 1-2-3 result on Stage 2 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock class, with American Sara Price and co-driver Sean Berriman (#504) taking the stage win with a time of 4:57:33 over today’s 400km special stage.
Following hot on their heels and in close proximity, Rokas Baciuška with Oriol Vidal (#502) finished one minute and 22 seconds later, whilst Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge (#500) completed the stage just four seconds after Rokas.
Today’s result keeps Rokas Baciuška/Oriol Vidal at the top of the Stock category standings.
Driver Comments
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today was quite a hard day with a long way to go through lots of stones and sandy tracks. The mechanics and the full team did a great job, we got a 1-2-3 in Stage 2 which was amazing. There’s still a long way to go, Stage 3 is over 400km, so let’s see what tomorrow brings.”
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today’s stage was a tough one for sure, it really tested the vehicles. It was very rough, stoney and with a lot of dust. There was little to no visibility a lot of the time. That mentally is very tough on drivers. We just got our heads down and kept to it. You always have setbacks on stages like this, and you just have to hope that you have less than others, and so we pushed all the way and we ended up with the win! I didn’t expect it at all. And even cooler, all three Defenders finished 1-2-3 so super cool to see all of us at the finish line within only a few minutes.”
More Driver Comments
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “Today, first of all, was much better than yesterday. We had no technical problems, so it was a nice stage. But we did start at the middle of the pack of competitors, this meant we experienced a lot of dust and lots of overtaking. But I am really happy with the feeling from the car. When I saw how demanding the track would be for the tyres, I thought it’s really crazy. We finished with three cars close together with no problems so a good day.”
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “What a difference a day makes. The entire team put in an incredible amount of work overnight to get the cars ready to go ahead of Stage 2 this morning. All three cars performed very well, especially across the challenging stone tracks, to achieve our first 1-2-3 finish. It’s an incredible result for the team and we hope to continue the momentum here in AlUla.”
Stage 3 takes place on Tuesday 6 January 2026 with a 422km timed stage, and an additional 244km road liaison.
STAGE 1 – 2026 DAKAR RALLY, 04 JANUARY
Lithuanian Rokas Baciuška and Spanish co-driver Oriol Vidal won Stage 1 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in Defender Dakar D7X-R, #502, with a time of 04:04:59.
The stage win means Rokas becomes the first ever driver in the history of the World Rally-Raid Championship to have won a stage in four different categories.
Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Mika Metge completed the Stage 48 minutes later in 4th position, after experiencing a power steering issue which caused them to slow.
It was a challenging day for Sara Price and Sean Berriman in Car #504 who were forced to stop around the 98th kilometre of the special stage with a mechanical issue caused by impact to the underbody of their car. The pair were eventually able to continue, finishing fifth 02:16:41 behind Rokas.
Driver Comments
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “This was a proper Dakar stage and proper Dakar day. It was not easy. It was a stoney track and a few kilometres of dunes. But we finished P1 in this stage in our class, so let’s continue to work like that. Sometimes we will need to take it slow with the difficult terrain but let’s see. The team, co-driver and driver together have to bring luck to the Dakar.”
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “Well it wasn’t the stage we were hoping for to start our Dakar, but it’s not over yet. Going into kilometre 98, we had a mechanical issue, so we had to wait for the support truck to get to us and help fix it. We did so as efficiently as possible to save as much time to get back on course and get to the
finish.”
More Driver Comments
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “It was a really beautiful stage because the landscape was incredible across some canyons, rocky sections and also some big dunes. For us, it was a bit complicated as we had a small technical problem. It’s not the start that we expect, but it’s great that Rokas is in first position in the Stock category. We lost some time today, but we know that the race will be long and hope that this will be the only problem in the Dakar.”
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “Dakar is coined as the ‘Everest of motorsport’ and today has been our first taste of exactly what that means. All three of our driver pairings got off to a strong start, with Rokas and Oriol powering on to take the debut stage victory – a huge milestone for Defender Rally and an achievement to be proud of. It was a challenging day for Stéphane and Mika, and Sara and Sean, but the team has understood the issues and will put measures in place to mitigate the risk going forward. That being said, we know that tomorrow’s stage will be just as arduous.”
Stage 2 takes place on Monday 5 January 2026 with a 400km timed stage, and an additional 104km road liaison.
Defender Rally Dakar 2026 Prologue 3rd January
Defender Rally’s debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally is off to a positive start with the Defender Dakar D7X-Rs taking the top three Stock category positions in today’s Prologue, from seven Stock starters.
Sara Price, in car #504 with co-driver Sean Berriman, took the top spot with a time of 12.03.09 for the 22km special stage, swiftly followed by teammates Stéphane Peterhansel and Rokas Baciuška, just four and five seconds behind respectively.
The next quickest car after the three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs in the Stock class was the Toyota Land Cruiser of Akira Mirua, 58 seconds behind Sara.
Stage 1 Driver Comments
Sara Price, Defender Rally driver, said: “I’m super happy with the result, I did not expect to do that well! I was very nervous today but wanted to do well. This is a great way to start off Dakar 2026. But this is only the beginning. You can lose a lot in the Prologue but you can’t win it. This is the first step to having a good start position to hopefully have a strong day tomorrow.”
Heading
Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender Rally driver, said: “It was a great feeling to be back to feel the atmosphere of the Dakar. It feels a bit like family here so it’s really nice to be at the start again. Today was a small Prologue, but we have finally entered the race. We started the project with Defender one year ago with lots of work to do developing the car, and now we’re here at Prologue. It’s a really good feeling.”
More Comments
Rokas Baciuška, Defender Rally driver, said: “It’s nice to be back at Dakar with Defender. We did a great job as a team with a one-two-three result, but now we have a long way to go and we need to take care of the car. I’m very happy to be here with a happy team. I hope we can, day-by-day, cross the finish line, and then celebrate.”
Just a heding to see if anyone reads this far
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “Defender’s debut at Dakar has gotten off to an strong start. Each of our drivers have finished the Prologue feeling calm, composed and confident ahead of tomorrow’s first full timed stage. We don’t underestimate the challenge that now lies ahead, but we are determined to take it on and we’ll push to remain at the top.”
Stage 1 takes place on Sunday 4 January 2026 with a 305km timed stage, and an additional 213km road liaison.
Defenders explore and define Dakar Rally route
As the official car partner to the Dakar Rally, British adventure brand Defender supports the world’s toughest off-road race in more ways than one. A fleet of six highly-specialised Defenders will be supplied to the event organisers for route reconnaissance over the course of the four-year partnership, and the first two have already been put to work finalising the route for the 2026 Dakar Rally.
The unique challenge of the Dakar Rally, which welcomes hundreds of competitors each year, comes from the demanding routes set out by the officials covering several thousand kilometres over a period of 10-15 days. Winding its way through the remote Saudi Arabian desert, Dakar officials demand capability and durability from recce vehicles in order to be able to prove and validate every kilometre of competitive stage before the route can be finalised.
Defender recce vehicles are derived from P300-powered 110 models,
The Defender recce vehicles are derived from P300-powered 110 models, with rally modifications to ensure they are ideally equipped to take on the weeks of route-planning in the desert by officials who will spend hours behind the wheel, traversing dirt tracks, loose sand, dunes and rocky tracks.
Safety is paramount of course, so each Defender recce car is equipped with a full roll-cage and configured to carry just three occupants to maximise stowage space for equipment. Those three seats are equipped with four-buckle harnesses. The P300 four-cylinder engine is standard, bar a rally-spec cooling pack kit and a high-level air intake with cyclonic intake pre-filter for optimised air cleaning.
All-terrain tyres on 18-inch wheels, rally-specification dampers, reinforced underbody protection and elevated recovery points are among the additional modifications. To maximise stowage a 132kg-capacity roof-rack complements the additional space freed up by the three-seat configuration. Tools, spares and an emergency recovery kit including sand ladders are all present of course, as is an auxiliary fuel tank to support an additional range of up to 700km.
Additional Gear
Given the long recce routes will mean many nights spent camping in the desert, a fridge, additional lighting and a 40-litre water tank for showering complete the extensive equipment list.
Once the route is set (the details of which are only revealed to competitors as each day’s stage begins) the recce cars will also be used on the Dakar Rally itself to ‘open’ each stage.
In addition to supporting the reconnaissance work with the supply of the recce cars, Defender’s Official Car partnership with Dakar Rally also includes the supply of a fleet of Defenders to support the event to enable transport of rally officials and VIP media for the duration of the competition. The partnership began at the 2025 Dakar Rally and is set to continue until at least 2028.
About Defender
Defender embraces the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed, highly desirable and seriously durable. A modern-day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future.
Available in 90, 110 and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own.
As part of our vision of modern luxury by design, Defender 110 is available as an electric hybrid.
Defender Hard Top means business, available with the 110 body style for professional capability.
The tough luxury Defender OCTA is the master of extreme performance – taking performance and capability to another level on and off-road.
A beacon of liberty that can trace its roots back to the first Land Rover in 1948, Defender is a brand that supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust.
The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover – a mark of trust built on more than 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability.
Defender is designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands alongside Range Rover, Discovery and Jaguar.
About Defender Rally
Defender embraces the impossible, and Defender Rally embodies this to the extreme. Demonstrating the ultimate capability, reliability and endurance in the most challenging of environments.
In 2025, Defender became the official car partner of the Dakar Rally. The partnership set to continue in 2026, 2027 and 2028. From 2026, Defender will also compete in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Entering the ‘Stock’ category – this being the first of a three-year programme.
Defender’s capability is designed to take on the most challenging of conditions. With Dakar Rally being the ultimate test. The competition car retains the same tough, purpose-engineered D7x body architecture as the Defender. Based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create a stiff body structure. In addition to featuring the 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 engine from Defender OCTA to provide exceptional driveability.
While Defender will not compete in Dakar until 2026. It played a key role at the 2025 rally as the event’s official vehicle partner. A fleet of 20 Defenders supported the event. Which began in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, and ended in Shubaytah. Transporting race officials and VIP media. A further six highly specialised Defender recce vehicles will be used by Dakar Rally organisers. To plan the routes for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 events.
About BILSTEIN
For more than 70 years, we have been working with leading vehicle manufacturers to develop shock absorbers for the perfect driving experience. Innovative, exclusive, trusted and precisely tailored to the individual performance characteristics of each vehicle model. Each BILSTEIN product is engineered for original equipment and the aftermarket. Ensuring maximum performance and durability. Our close cooperation with premium manufacturers and global network makes BILSTEIN a leading technology partner.
Important notice
JLR is constantly seeking ways to improve the
- specification,
- design and production of its vehicles,
- parts and accessories and
- alterations take place continually.
Whilst every effort is made to produce up-to-date literature. This document should not be regarded as an infallible guide to current specifications or availability. Nor does it constitute an offer for the sale of any particular vehicle, part or accessory. All figures are manufacturer’s estimates.