Archive · 18 Jan 2026
Defender Rally Wins Historic Dakar 2026
The Defender Rally team won the 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock class, which is a very tough car race in the desert.
They won first and second place in their first time ever entering the race.
The winners were Rokas Baciuska and Oriol Vidal, and the second-place team was Sara Price and Sean Berriman.
They drove a special car called the Defender Dakar D7X-R, which is very strong and can handle the tough conditions of the race.
The team worked really hard, and their mechanics fixed the cars every day to keep them running.
This win is a big deal because it's the first time Defender has ever raced in the Dakar Rally, and they did really well.
Next, they are going to race in Portugal in March.
Defender Rally team secured a historic 1-2 finish in the Stock class at the 2026 Dakar Rally on their debut.
Rokas Baciuska and Oriol Vidal won the championship with an overall time of 58 hours, 09 minutes, and 45 seconds.
Sara Price and Sean Berriman secured second place, while Stephane Peterhansel and Mika Metge finished fourth.
The team's Defender Dakar D7X-R vehicles showcased durability and performance, sharing components with the production Defender OCTA.
The victory was attributed to both engineering excellence and the hard work of the team's mechanics and drivers.
- Who
- Defender Rally team, including drivers Rokas Baciuska, Oriol Vidal, Sara Price, Sean Berriman, Stephane Peterhansel, and Mika Metge
- What
- Won the 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock class with a 1-2 finish
- When
- 2026
- Where
- Saudi Arabian desert
- Why
- To showcase the durability and performance of the Defender Dakar D7X-R vehicle
- Event
- 2026 Dakar Rally
- Class
- Stock
- Winners
- Rokas Baciuska and Oriol Vidal
- Second Place
- Sara Price and Sean Berriman
- Fourth Place
- Stephane Peterhansel and Mika Metge
- Vehicle
- Defender Dakar D7X-R
- Engine
- 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8
- Next Event
- BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal (March 17-22)