Rally driving remains one of motorsport’s least forgiving arenas. Part navigation exercise, part mechanical trial, and part mental siege, it’s a discipline that sits around
the top of the endurance food chain. Running across western, central, and southern Saudi Arabia, starting and finishing on the Red Sea coast, the Dakar Rally is one of its most grueling examples, spanning over 14 days and covering roughly 24,000km of terrain.
With seven teams participating in the rally’s Stock Class, on its debut entry in the series, Defender Rally secured first, second, and fourth place in the category and won every single stage along the way. Drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal claimed victory with an overall time of 58h 09’ 45’’, delivering an exceptionally solid performance. Sara Price and Sean Berriman followed in second, while Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge finished fourth.
“Defender Rally secured first, second, and fourth place in the category and won every single stage along the way”
The winning Defender Dakar D7X-R competed in the production-based Stock category and is closely related to the Defender OCTA available in showrooms. It shares the same D7x body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout, powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 635PS and up to 750Nm of torque, enabling 0-60mph in 3.8 seconds.
A heavily reworked chassis introduces 6D Dynamics suspension with pitch and roll control, alongside a wider track and increased ride height for enhanced stability and articulation. The dedicated OCTA Mode unlocks heightened off-road capability, while uprated brakes and the fastest steering ratio of any Defender to date sharpen responses.
With Dakar conquered, Defender Rally continues its 2026 campaign at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal from March 17 to March 22.
As the foundation on which the competing machinery is built, Defender OCTA emerges
as a luxury SUV shaped by real endurance, durability, and accuracy under pressure.
All merits that weigh heavier when they’re earned under the unforgiving desert sun.