Defender Rally has made history by winning the Stock (T2) category at the 2026 Dakar Rally on its very first attempt. The team finished 1st and 2nd overall in the production-based category, competing in one of the toughest off-road motorsport events in the world. The Dakar Rally also served as the opening round of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
“To see us win it in our first race has made history, and to also come second in such style. The team spirit has just been incredible. They’re just so proud,” said Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender.
A gruelling two-week challenge
The 2026 Dakar Rally ran for 14 days, starting with a short ‘Prologue’ and followed by 13 full stages, across Saudi Arabia’s extreme desert terrain. The 3 Defender Rally cars collectively covered 24,000 kilometres, tackling sand dunes, rocks, heat, and mechanical stress. The Dakar is widely known as the “Everest of motorsport” due to its difficulty and endurance demands.
Race results and winners
| Position | Drive Team | Team | Finish Time |
| 1 | Rokas Baciuska & Oriol Vidal | Defender Rally | 58h 09m 45s |
| 2 | Sara Price & Sean Berriman | Defender Rally | 62h 07m 45s |
| 3 | Ronald Basso and Julien Menard | Toyota Land Cruiser | 66h 44m 14s |
| 4 | Stephane Peterhansel & Michael Metge | Defender Rally | 96h 25m 55s |
Rokas and Oriol won 7 stages, including a final-day victory in Stage 13 to seal their Stock (T2) class victory. The Defender Rally team finished first, second, and third across 10 of the 13 stages.
Rokas Baciuska described winning Dakar as a lifelong dream. Sara Price spoke about the emotional impact of finishing together as a team. Stephane Peterhansel reflected on the adventure, team unity, and overall success despite not winning personally.
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About the winning car Defender Dakar D7X-R
The Defender Dakar D7X-R competed in the ‘Stock (T2)’ category, which means it is very similar to a production vehicle. This car is derived from the production performance SUV, Defender Octa.
The Dakar unit is built on the same bodyshell production line in Nitra, Slovakia and uses the same D7x body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout. It is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and modified for racing with wider track, increased ride height, upgraded suspension and enhanced cooling.
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What’s next for Defender Rally?
Defender Rally will continue competing in the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), with its next event being the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, running from 17–22 March 2026. Defender Octa is also a finalist in the 2026 World Performance Car category, whose winner will be announced on 1st April, 2026.
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