In an historic debut, Defender Rally claimed the 2026 Dakar Rally Stock class in its Defender Dakar D7X-R.

Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal took the win on the gruelling 13-stage (almost 8000 km) Saudi Arabian course, followed by teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman in second, and Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body’s Ronald Basso and Julien Menard in third. Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge rounded out an extraordinary event for Defender Rally in fourth place.

The final times underline the team’s dominance. Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal finished in 58 hours, 9 minutes, 45 seconds, with Sara Price and Sean Berriman in 62 hours, 7 minutes, 45 seconds. Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge crossed fourth in 96 hours, 25 minutes, 55 seconds, more than 38 hours behind the leaders.

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“Dreams come true you know, and it was my dream to win Dakar,” said the winning driver, Rokas Baciuška. “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.”

Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, added: “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.”

The Defender Dakar D7X-R is built on the Defender OCTA bodyshell to FIA Stock‑category rules, keeping the 4.4‑litre twin‑turbo V8, drivetrain, and core body structure standard while adding desert-ready upgrades. It features a 550‑litre rear fuel tank, 35‑inch tyres, a 60 mm wider track, and raised ride height for improved ground clearance. Front and rear bodywork are reshaped for better approach and departure angles, with extended wheel arches and underfloor protection enhancing ruggedness.

Bilstein performance dampers complement the OCTA suspension, while a bespoke rally brake package includes vented discs with six‑piston front and four‑piston rear calipers. Cooling upgrades include a large radiator, four electric fans, bonnet vents, and a sand‑particle filter to withstand heat and dust.

The production eight‑speed automatic gearbox is paired with a lower final-drive ratio for torque-rich off-road performance, with a “Flight Mode” to modulate torque when airborne and protect the driveline.

Inside, the cabin features FIA‑approved six‑buckle seats, a race navigation system, motorsport dashboard, and head-up display, with storage for three spare wheels, tools, compressed air, and integrated hydraulic jacks for long stages.

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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.”

Australia also had strong results across the major Dakar divisions. In the motorcycle category, Daniel Sanders finished fifth overall on his KTM, despite riding with broken bones. In the car (T1) category, Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC’s Toby Price brought his Toyota Hilux GR home in eighth overall, leading the Gazoo squad through a tough rally.

The next round of the World Rally-Raid Championship runs from March 17 to 22 at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid in Portugal.

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