For drivers, teams and machines, Dakar is a test of endurance, unfolding over 15 days and more than 8,000km. The terrain and the weather make it even more difficult. What makes it brutal, though, is the daily kilometre count that includes timed as well as liaison drives, sometimes as much as 800km a day. 

As many participants say, it stops feeling like a race and becomes something they need to get through, with the terrain, sand, rock and dunes never giving them a rhythm to settle into. And as Mr Peterhansel puts it, it’s only “a super good team, super team spirit … the mechanics and all the staff” that help you stay in it.

“Dreams come true you know, and it was my dream to win Dakar,” says Mr Baciuška. “For the first year for Defender, it is 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 is great to be P1 and P2.”

Markedly different from Dakar, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal presents a unique challenge for drivers, navigators and support teams with its humidity, rain, and narrow roads. The only rally-raid in Europe, the rally comprises five stages, covering 2,175km in total, including 1,320km of timed sections. The pace is much faster, with little scope for error. As Mr Baciuška, the 2026 Dakar winner in the Stock class, puts it, “one mistake can cost a lot.”

Just two years old, with its first edition taking place in 2024, the rally continues to evolve. The 2026 route was redesigned to touch the Atlantic coast, adding another layer of complexity to an already demanding course. 

Mr Peterhansel with co-driver Mr Metge (seen in the picture) finished on top, with the Baciuška-Vidal duo finishing second, followed by Ms Price and Mr Berriman. 

“The Dakar Rally was perfect for the team, but here, there were completely different conditions of the track: more rain, more humidity, and narrower,” says Mr Peterhansel. “But the team did a really good job. This is why I am really proud. They adapt the car to the condition of the route, and it was not an easy job for the team.”

The Desafío Ruta 40, the third round of the W2RC, is named after Ruta 40 (Route 40) — an iconic and scenic highway that stretches along the north-south length of Argentina, running parallel to the Andes

The route combines a range of terrain — sandy dunes, rocky climbs and descents, high-altitude mountains and dry riverbeds. 

Spanning five stages across a total of 1,523km of timed sections, Ruta 40 is widely regarded as one of the toughest rally-raids in the competition. The Dakar Rally took place in this route before it shifted to Saudi Arabia. 

Saydiie Gray joined Ms Price as co-driver (seen in picture), making history as the first all-female crew to race the Desafío Ruta 40 and to secure a stage win. They finished third after the Peterhansel-Metge duo, with Baciuška-Vidal finishing second.

Not only do these conditions demand the best from drivers, navigators, engineers and support staff, they also test the cars to the limit. Unlike other segments, the Stock class features production cars with permitted modifications to make them competition ready. 

Ms Price says, “Ruta 40 was tougher than I expected, with a lot of treacherous terrain, but we made it. We didn’t know what racing in Argentina in rally-raid would be like so it was a really cool experience. Saydiie and I both had a blast and we were put through it all. We had good days and bad days.”