Land Rover Defender made Dakar history with a debut win proving it may be the best off-roader
Published on Jan 22, 2026 at 1:58 PM (UTC+4)
by Grace Donohoe
Last updated on Jan 22, 2026 at 1:58 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
The Land Rover Defender may be one of the most iconic cars on the planet, and now it has made even more history at the prestigious Dakar rally.
Competing in the Stock class, the team managed to take home the crown in the mighty Defender Dakar D7X‑R.
Seeing competitors trekking across almost 8,000km of the Saudi Arabian desert, the rally has been dubbed the ‘Everest of motorsport’.
Derived from the Defender OCTA, the winning chassis was modified to tackle the harsh conditions, bringing victory to three teams.
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Land Rover Defender showed the Dakar Rally who was boss
The quintessentially British Brand, Land Rover Defender, took to the track at the tough Dakar Rally in style, claiming a win in the Stock class on its 2026 debut.
Having previously competed in the off-road battle, the team was back to prove they once again had what it takes.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal took home the crown with a time of 58h 09′ 45″, with other teammates following closely behind.
Sara Price and Sean Berriman raced into second place, and in a hat-trick of motorsport success, Stéphane Peterhansel and co‑driver Mika Metge ended the Stock class in a respectable fourth position.
According to the company itself, the three crews managed to land a ‘1-2-3’ result across 10 out of the 13 stages and amassed a mighty 24,000km across the desert track.
“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,” Defender Rally Driver Rokas Baciuška said.
The car that soared to success was the Defender Dakar D7X-R
Now, you may be thinking that the Dakar D7X-R looks familiar, and you’d be right.
The car that won the company’s place in the Stock class is remarkably similar to the Land Rover Defender OCTA.
The car is powered by the same twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine, and even begins its life on the very same body shell assembly line.
The difference, though, is that the car is modified to tackle the harsh conditions of the race with enhanced cooling systems, a larger ride height, and a brand new suspension.
“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,” Defender Managing Director, Mark Cameron said.
But the hard work doesn’t stop there.
Now, the Defender Rally will next compete at the next round of the World Rally‑Raid Championship in Portugal, which takes place from 17‑22 March 2026.
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Beginning her career as a lifestyle reporter and social-media manager, Grace joined Supercar Blondie in February 2025. Since coming on board, has thrown herself into the busy daily writing schedule. Her editorial sweet spots include writing about luxury properties and the quirky features inside them that the one percent are investing in, as well as groundbreaking advancements in space exploration.
