The 2026 Dakar Rally took place in Saudi Arabia, starting off and ending at the Red Sea port city of Yanbu. The rally was spread over 14 driving days, covering an aggregate of 5,862km. It had a total of 13 stages with a pre-stage prologue of 22km (stage 11 being the longest at 917km).

Dakar is the first round of the 2026 World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC) and was the perfect platform to showcase the capability and durability of the Defender.

Credit: Pawel Starzyk

Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said: “I feel exhilarated, amazed, and I can't believe it. It hasn’t really sunk in yet. To see the three Defenders come over the line together, it's the culmination of an incredible team effort. 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.” 

In the photo: Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal driving through rocky terrain

Credit: Simon Bauchau/All Terrain Media

Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said: “Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team. Not only the fact that we've won Dakar in the way that we have, but the manner in which everybody's pulled together and worked so hard throughout has been simply outstanding. So, I'm looking forward to the celebrations. A huge congratulations, of course, to Rokas and Oriol in particular, but to every member of the team. A huge thank you for the efforts in getting us to this point, and long may it continue.”

In the pic: Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal conquer the dunes in their Defenders at Stage 6

Credit: Mateusz Skrzek

Winner Rokas Baciuška: “Dreams come true you know, and it was my dream to win Dakar. For the first year for Defender, it's amazing. Our mechanics did a great job - what they do is unbelievable, working every day until early in the morning to prepare the cars for the next stage. I give my thanks to them, the engineers, the entire team because without them, we would not be here. It's great to be P1 and P2.”

In the pic: Rokas Baciuška at Stage 8

Second place finisher Sara Price: “Dakar Rally was just incredible. We had a goal at the final stage to get to the finish line as a team together. So to see the whole Defender team sitting there at the finish line and all their excitement and emotions, it just shows what this is all about and what it means. To get this team to the finish line in P1 and P2 is just, wow, incredible.”

In the pic: Sara Price at Stage 4

14-time Dakar Rally winner 'Mr Dakar' Stéphane Peterhansel: “Overall, it was a Dakar with full emotion - sometimes up, sometimes down. But the main target was to win the Stock class, and Rokas finished first and Sara second. For us, it was a little bit more complicated, but what I keep in my mind, that it was nice adventure with a super good team, super team spirit between all the members – the mechanics and all the staff. Then me and my co-driver, we were already close together. So yes it’s not exactly the result that I expect for me, but I'm super happy because it was a really nice Dakar for me.”

In the pic: Stéphane Peterhansel doing a test

It was at Stage 3 that each driver pair had taken a win each, making this a significant point in the rally..

Said Stéphane Peterhansel of this stage, "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.” 

In the pic: Stéphane Peterhansel marks a striking win

Credit: DPPI

Stage 5 marked 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.. Said Rokas Baciuška, the stage winner: “Today was a bit rough and stony and there were tricky waypoints, but Oriol (co-driver) 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.”

In the pic: Rokas Baciuška

Credit: Matteo Gebbia/Edophoto

Stage 9 - the first part of the second marathon of the Dakar Rally - was a true test of endurance for both driver and machine. Frequent rocky sections and challenging tracks made up a 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.

In the pic: Sara Price navigates a high sand dune

Credit: Matteo Gebbia/Edophoto

Sara Price said of Stage 12, the penultimate day: "Today was a good day. I started in front of our teammates, and we had a plan to stay cautious and collected and keep everything together to get through the stage. I’m very pumped to get another stage win and another medal. One more day.”

In the pic: Sara Price wins the stage.

Credit: Helena Clancy/Edophoto

Finally at the podium: Winners Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, and teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman in second place.