Pretoria, South Africa – 19 January 2026: Defender Rally has made a stunning entrance on the world stage, claiming first and second place in the Stock class at the 2026 Dakar Rally – the ultimate test of endurance, skill, and vehicle capability.
Drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal powered their Defender Dakar D7X-R to victory with an overall time of 58 hours, 9 minutes, and 45 seconds, marking an extraordinary debut for the team. Their triumph was complemented by teammates Sara Price with Sean Berriman finishing second, and 14-time Dakar champion Stéphane Peterhansel with co-driver Mika Metge securing fourth place.
The Dakar Rally, often called the “Everest of motorsport,” is notorious for its punishing desert terrain, grueling stages, and relentless 14-day schedule. Throughout the rally, Defender Rally crews demonstrated unmatched consistency and determination, achieving a podium finish in 10 out of 13 stages and covering a combined distance of 24,000 km across Saudi Arabia’s unforgiving landscape.
Rokas Baciuška reflected on the historic achievement: “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. It’s great to be P1 and P2.”
Sara Price added: “Dakar Rally was just incredible. Our goal was to finish as a team, and to see the whole Defender team there at the finish line, celebrating P1 and P2 together, was just wow – incredible.”
Even Stéphane Peterhansel, known as ‘Mr Dakar,’ praised the team’s effort: “Today the stage was short but fast and dynamic. Our main target was to win the Stock class, and Rokas finished first, Sara second. It was a great adventure with a super team spirit – mechanics, staff, everyone.”
The winning Defender Dakar D7X-R is derived from the production Defender OCTA, sharing the same D7x body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout. Powered by the OCTA’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, the Dakar D7X-R has been adapted for the extreme conditions of W2RC competition with a wider track, increased ride height, enhanced suspension, and upgraded cooling systems. Each car begins life on the same assembly line as customer Defenders at Defender’s state-of-the-art Nitra, Slovakia facility.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender, celebrated the team’s debut: “I feel exhilarated, amazed – it hasn’t really sunk in yet. To see the three Defenders come over the line together in first and second place is historic. The team spirit has been incredible.”
Team Principal Ian James echoed the sentiment: “Honestly, I couldn’t be prouder of the entire team. The way we’ve won Dakar in our first attempt, and how everybody pulled together, has been outstanding. Congratulations to Rokas and Oriol, and thank you to every team member for their dedication.”
Defender Rally now looks forward to the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, the second round of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship, running from 17–22 March 2026, as it continues to showcase the capability, resilience, and spirit of the Defender brand.
