In its first-ever Dakar Rally entry, Defender has won the Stock class of the Dakar Rally. Not quietly. Not by survival alone. But by finishing first and second in the toughest production-based category in rally-raid.

A Debut Written in Results

The winning crew, Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, secured the Stock class victory with a cumulative time of 58 hours, 9 minutes and 45 seconds. Teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman completed the rally in second position, while Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge brought their car home in fourth.

For a debut factory programme, the numbers are stark. Across the 13 stages, Defender Rally crews achieved a 1-2-3 result on ten occasions. Between them, the three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs covered more than 24,000 kilometres of competition and liaison across Saudi Arabia.

This was not a learning exercise. It was a statement.

Stage 13: Finishing the Job

The overall win was sealed on the final day. Baciuška and Vidal claimed victory on Stage 13 in a time of 55 minutes and 51 seconds, with Peterhansel and Metge close behind, and Price and Berriman completing the podium positions for the day.

The order reflected the wider rally. Pace without panic. Pressure without mistakes. And three cars reaching the finish line together.

Built From Production, Tested by Dakar

At the centre of the victory is the Defender Dakar D7X-R, competing in the Stock category for production-based vehicles. The relevance of that classification has grown with every stage.

Each D7X-R begins life on the same body assembly line in Nitra, Slovakia, as a customer Defender. It retains the aluminium D7x architecture, transmission layout and driveline of the Defender OCTA, along with the mechanically unchanged 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. Competition modifications are functional and regulated: wider track, increased ride height, uprated suspension and enhanced cooling to survive W2RC conditions.

Dakar does not reward theory. Over two weeks, the Defender formula proved itself the hard way.

Voices From the Finish Line

Rokas Baciuška did not hide the scale of the moment.

“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. 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.”

For Sara Price, the emotional weight of the finish mattered as much as the result.

“Dakar Rally was just incredible. We had a goal at the final stage to get to the finish line as a team together. So to see the whole Defender team sitting there at the finish line and all their excitement and emotions, it just shows what this is all about and what it means. To get this team to the finish line in P1 and P2 is just, wow, incredible.”

Peterhansel, fourteen-time Dakar winner and no stranger to perspective, summed it up with characteristic honesty.

“Overall, it was a Dakar with full emotion – sometimes up, sometimes down. The main target was to win the Stock class, and Rokas finished first and Sara second. For me, it’s not exactly the result I expected, but I’m super happy because it was a really nice Dakar with a super good team and team spirit.”

A Team Victory

Behind the drivers, the scale of the operation never wavered. Nights spent rebuilding cars. Early mornings. No shortcuts. Consistency over heroics.

Managing Director Mark Cameron described the finish as a moment that will take time to settle.

“I feel exhilarated, amazed, and I can’t believe it. To see the three Defenders come over the line together, it’s the culmination of an incredible team effort. To win in our first race and also come second in such style – the team spirit has been incredible.”

Team Principal Ian James echoed that sentiment.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team. Not only that we’ve won Dakar, but the manner in which everybody has pulled together throughout has been outstanding. A huge congratulations to Rokas and Oriol, and to every member of the team who made this possible.”

What Comes Next

The Dakar Rally was the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship. Defender Rally’s season continues at the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal from 17–22 March 2026.

Dakar has been conquered. The championship continues. And Defender’s first chapter in rally-raid history has been written in permanent ink.

About Defender Rally

Defender has always traded on the idea of going where others stop. Defender Rally takes that philosophy to its logical extreme, proving capability, reliability and endurance in the most demanding environments motorsport can offer.

In 2025, Defender became the official vehicle partner of the Dakar Rally, a partnership confirmed through 2026, 2027 and 2028. From 2026, the programme steps up further, with Defender entering the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in the Stock category as part of a planned three-year factory campaign.

The Dakar Rally remains the ultimate test of Defender’s core attributes. The competition car retains the same purpose-engineered D7x body architecture as the production Defender, based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque that delivers exceptional stiffness and durability. Power comes from the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 used in the Defender OCTA, chosen for its drivability and resilience under sustained load.

Although Defender did not compete at Dakar until 2026, its involvement began a year earlier. At the 2025 event, a fleet of 20 Defenders supported the rally as official vehicles, transporting race officials and VIP media from the start in Bisha to the finish in Shubaytah. In addition, six highly specialised Defender reconnaissance vehicles are being used by Dakar organisers to plan routes for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 events.

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After nearly 8,000 kilometres of desert, rock, dunes and high-speed pistes, the Qatari–Belgian pairing finished just under ten minutes clear of the field. More telling than the margin, however, was the consistency behind it: all four Dacia crews reached the finish, all inside the top eleven.

In modern Dakar terms, that is not luck. It is execution.

A measured final act in Yanbu

The final day around Yanbu was never going to be dramatic. Al-Attiyah and Lurquin started Stage 13 with over sixteen minutes in hand and drove accordingly. The organisers warned of tight gravel sections through mountainous terrain, and the leading crew treated it as a preservation exercise rather than a sprint.

They finished 36th on the stage, allowing faster cars through and keeping risks to a minimum. The result was a calm, almost understated confirmation of victory by 9 minutes and 42 seconds — a professional end to a rally that had already been won on judgement rather than heroics.

Behind them, the battle for the remaining podium places remained tense.

Loeb falls short, Moraes settles, Gutiérrez climbs

Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger arrived at the final stage just 29 seconds off third overall. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for a driver who has spent much of his Dakar career circling the top step without quite landing on it.

They pushed hard, missing the stage win by eight seconds, but the gap was not enough. Fourth place, just 37 seconds short of the podium, was a frustrating but fair reflection of a rally shaped by punctures and time losses rather than lack of pace.

Lucas Moraes and Dennis Zenz, contesting their first Dakar together with Dacia, ended seventh overall after a penalty-adjusted run. It was a quiet but important result for a pairing still finding rhythm at this level.

Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno moved up one place on the final day to finish eleventh, completing a clean sweep of Dacia cars in the upper end of the classification.

No retirements. No late drama. Just four cars at the finish line.

Thirteen days, one system, no collapse

Across 13 stages, the Sandriders claimed two stage wins and dropped out of the overall top three only once. The terrain offered everything Dakar can throw at a crew: rock-strewn tracks, soft dunes, fast open sections and long navigational days where concentration mattered more than outright speed.

What stood out was not aggression but restraint. Al-Attiyah and Lurquin rarely needed to chase. When others faltered, they consolidated. When conditions turned hostile, they survived.

In a rally where mechanical failures and navigational errors still decide more outcomes than raw horsepower, Dacia’s programme looked unusually settled for a team still in its infancy.

Al-Attiyah’s sixth, Lurquin’s first

For Al-Attiyah, this was familiar territory. The 2026 win marks his sixth Dakar victory and his third since the rally moved permanently to Saudi Arabia. Few drivers in modern rally-raid have combined longevity and relevance in quite the same way.

For Lurquin, it was something else entirely.

After three previous Dakar podiums — second in 2022 and 2023, third in 2024 — this was his first outright win, and the first ever Dakar victory in the car category for a Belgian navigator. A milestone not just personal, but historical.

The bigger picture

Perhaps the most significant aspect of this result is not the win itself, but how it was achieved.

Dacia entered the Dakar as a newcomer, without the decades of institutional memory that define teams like Toyota, Prodrive or Audi. Yet after only two seasons, they now sit as Dakar winners and four-time W2RC champions.

That shift matters.

It suggests a programme built around process rather than spectacle — logistics, engineering depth, and a driver line-up selected for experience rather than marketing appeal.

The fact that all four cars finished in the top eleven tells a clearer story than any trophy.

This was not a single heroic run. It was a system that worked.

Dakar 2026, in numbers

• 6 – Dakar victories for Nasser Al-Attiyah
• 1 – First Dakar win for Fabian Lurquin
• 4 – W2RC titles for the Dacia Sandriders
• 11 – All four Dacia crews inside the top eleven
• 50 – Al-Attiyah equals the all-time stage-win record
• 7,976 km – Total distance covered
• 13 stages – Plus prologue and rest day

Dakar remains the ultimate stress test of modern motorsport — not for speed, but for endurance, systems thinking, and the ability to avoid disaster when everyone else eventually finds it.

In 2026, Dacia didn’t just survive it.

They controlled it.

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Over nearly 8,000 kilometres of Saudi desert, the all-new DKR GR Hilux showed both promise and fragility in equal measure. Two cars finished inside the top ten, while a third remained in the fight for victory until late mechanical failure finally closed the door.

It was not the result the team came for. But it was a campaign that revealed a great deal about where Toyota now stands in the modern rally-raid landscape.

A new car under real pressure

Three DKR GR Hilux lined up for the start in Yanbu on 3 January, carrying Toyota’s hopes of repeating last year’s podium success. This time, however, the rally unfolded very differently.

The new Hilux – featuring a tubular chassis and strengthened transmission – claimed two stage wins and ran consistently at the front across wildly varied terrain, from sharp rock fields to vast dune systems. For much of the event, it looked capable of winning outright.

What ultimately defined Toyota’s Dakar, however, was not speed, but resilience.

Price and Monleón lead the way

Toby Price and Armand Monleón contested their first Dakar together and quickly emerged as the team’s most consistent pairing. In the #204 Hilux, they avoided major technical drama and delivered a disciplined rally.

Their eighth-place finish made them the top TGR W2RC crew overall, just 52 minutes behind winners Nasser Al-Attiyah and Fabian Lurquin. For a debut pairing in the Ultimate category, it was a strong and credible result.

Quintero salvages a top ten

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short endured one of the most frustrating campaigns in the field. A disastrous Stage 3, marked by repeated punctures, cost them more than an hour and effectively ended any chance of a top result.

From that point on, however, the #203 Hilux ran near the front almost every day. Consistent pace and clean stages allowed them to recover to ninth overall — a position that reflected performance more than fortune.

Lategan’s rally ends late

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings were, for much of the rally, Toyota’s strongest threat for overall victory. They led early, fought through repeated punctures, on-stage repairs and even fuel shortages.

But on Stage 11, while running second overall, a wheel bearing failure finally ended their title challenge. Nearly four hours were lost, and any realistic podium hopes disappeared.

Still, they refused to retire. Despite the setback, they completed the rally in 21st and even closed their campaign with a strong third place on the final stage — just 13 seconds off victory.

A team effort in every sense

Behind the results sat a less visible story: a team that kept itself alive through cooperation as much as speed.

Toyota’s technical crews worked relentlessly in desert bivouacs, repairing cars overnight and even performing major component changes during stages — including a complete power steering unit swap in just 13 minutes.

On the road, the drivers and navigators operated as a single unit. Spare tyres were shared. Stage positions were sacrificed. At one point, Price and Monleón even towed Lategan and Cummings almost 10 kilometres to the finish.

In Dakar terms, that matters.

Looking beyond the desert

Toyota leaves Dakar 2026 without silverware, but with data, experience and a car that has proven it can run at the front under real pressure.

The next stop is Rally-Raid Portugal in March, where the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship continues and Toyota resumes its defence of the manufacturers’ title.

The lessons from Saudi Arabia will shape everything that follows.

Key Quotes

Henk Lategan:
“It was not meant to be our year, it seemed. We had a lot of setbacks, but every time we had a bad day, we went back and motivated ourselves to keep pushing. We had some really good days as well and it was unbelievable that we were still fighting for the win until Stage 11, considering everything that happened. That’s very promising for the future. Bringing a new car to the Dakar is always difficult and we’ve shown a lot of potential. There’s a lot to learn from this race, and a lot of positives to take. We know what to improve on already and we’ll come back stronger.”

Seth Quintero:
“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks and there are a lot of positives to take away from this rally. The biggest positive is how the car performed. We didn’t have a lot of testing time, so to be able to fight every single day at the front was impressive. That’s confidence inspiring for myself and the whole TGR W2RC team. Now we need to keep working to get better every day. Obviously, we are not the happiest with ninth, but from the first day of the rally we gave 110 percent every day and it’s nice to come away with a top 10 for the team.”

Toby Price:
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of these two weeks, it’s been a lot of fun. Working with Armand has been amazing as well, and he’s done such a good job. It’s a great feeling to reach the finish line. I set myself a goal to finish in the top 10, and I would be extra happy to be in the top eight. The time difference is more than I wanted, but I hit my goal so I can’t complain. Thank you to Armand and to everyone in the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC team for all their effort and support. It’s been a fantastic experience to be part of this team.”

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The 882-kilometre route from Bisha to Al Henakiyah crossed dusty plateaus and high-speed dirt tracks, with 346 kilometres against the clock. It was a stage built for momentum — and one that punished even small technical weaknesses.

For Toyota, it proved decisive.

A rally ends on a bearing

Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings started Stage 11 second overall and still within striking distance of the rally lead. The plan was simple: apply pressure and see what unfolded.

Instead, at the 140-kilometre mark, a wheel bearing failure left their #202 DKR GR Hilux stranded. With no suitable spares on board, they attempted to limp forward on three wheels before being forced to stop again just 10 kilometres later.

They waited for the spare parts truck, made repairs, and eventually rejoined the stage. By then, the damage was done. Nearly four hours had been lost, and any realistic chance of an overall podium was gone.

Still, Lategan and Cummings completed the remaining 200 kilometres — an act of persistence rather than optimism. They now sit 23rd overall.

Quintero keeps the pressure on

While one Toyota fell out of contention, Seth Quintero and Andrew Short delivered one of their cleanest runs of the rally. The #203 Hilux ran near the front all day and finished fifth without technical issues.

The result keeps them 11th overall, with two stages remaining and 416 kilometres still to be timed. After earlier setbacks from punctures and delays, their Dakar has become a salvage operation — but one still capable of finishing strongly.

Price holds top ten

Toby Price and Armand Monleón continued their steady, low-risk approach through the dust, finishing 13th on the stage.

That result consolidates their position inside the overall top ten, with the #204 Hilux now eighth heading into the final two days. In a rally defined by attrition, consistency has quietly become their strongest asset.

Others fight, Al-Attiyah controls

Stage 11 was won by Ford Racing’s Markus Ekström and Emil Bergkvist, ahead of Romain Dumas and Alex Winocq. Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz completed the podium, also for Ford.

At the front of the overall standings, Nasser Al-Attiyah maintained control of the rally for the Dacia Sandriders — benefiting from the misfortune behind him more than any aggressive move of his own.

The road back to Yanbu

Friday’s Stage 12 sends the field westward on a 720-kilometre route back to Yanbu, the city where the rally began almost two weeks ago. The stage includes a mix of terrain and 416 kilometres of competitive distance.

Saturday’s final stage is short and technical — just 105 kilometres on the clock — and will decide the final standings.

For Toyota, the objective has shifted. The fight for overall victory is over. What remains is damage control, stage results, and bringing all cars home.

Key Quotes

Henk Lategan:
“It is really frustrating. This year it feels like everything that Dakar could throw at us has happened. This rally tried hard to get us down and we lost four hours on this stage, so it has finally succeeded. Every day we would get ourselves back up into a decent position. We have been pushing for so many days and trying so hard. We’ll keep going and push again tomorrow because it’s the only way we know.”

Seth Quintero:
“It has been a good day for us. We started off at a decent pace. Unfortunately, we saw our good buddies and team-mates Henk and Brett waiting for parts, but we didn’t have those parts, so we continued. We made up quite a bit of time towards the end and were fifth, so that’s a pretty good result. We have a decent starting position for tomorrow and we’re still fighting for the overall top 10. Hopefully we finish the rally strongly and bring that home.”

Toby Price:
“It was hard work out there but a super fun stage. We passed Henk and Brett in the stage, and it was tough to leave them there, but we didn’t have the parts he needed. The rest of the stage went well but we just couldn’t make up any time because of the dust. I’m a little disappointed with that, but I enjoyed driving at full throttle. There are a couple more days to go and it would be nice to get a stage win. The car is in good shape and the rally’s not over yet, so anything can happen. We’ll keep pushing on.”

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Six stages down. Six Stock class wins. Three cars still running. As the 2026 Dakar pauses for its lone Rest Day, Defender’s debut factory effort sits exactly where few newcomers ever do: leading the field.

Six Stages. Six Wins.

The opening half of Dakar 2026 has delivered no gentle introduction. Over six punishing stages across Saudi Arabia, the Defender Dakar D7X-R has claimed victory in the Stock category every single day.

Each of Defender Rally’s three driver pairings has taken two stage wins apiece. Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge. Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal. Sara Price and Sean Berriman. Different terrains, different challenges, same result.

By the close of Stage 6, Baciuška and Vidal lead the Stock class overall on a cumulative time of 29 hours, 12 minutes and 58 seconds. Peterhansel and Metge sit second, with Price and Berriman holding fourth. Seven stages still remain. Nothing is decided.

Stage Six: The Longest Day Yet

If Dakar was going to expose weakness, Stage 6 was the place. At 920 kilometres including liaison sections, it was the longest day of the rally so far.

American duo Sara Price and Sean Berriman mastered deep sand and demanding dunes to take the stage win in 4:32:10. Baciuška and Vidal followed closely, with Peterhansel and Metge just seconds further back. The margins were tight. The pace relentless. The cars came home intact.

It was also Price’s first full competitive day in the dunes in the Defender. The result spoke for itself.

Built From Production, Proven Under Pressure

The Defender Dakar D7X-R competes in the Stock category for production-based vehicles, and that distinction matters more with every kilometre completed.

Derived directly from the Defender OCTA, the rally car retains the production model’s aluminium D7x body architecture, driveline, transmission and mechanically unchanged 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine. Competition modifications are purposeful rather than theatrical: wider track, increased ride height, uprated suspension and enhanced cooling for sustained punishment.

Six stages in, the formula is working.

A Team Effort, Not a Moment

Behind the results is a relentless operational rhythm. Cars rebuilt nightly. Data analysed. Strategy adjusted. Consistency prioritised over bravado.

As Defender Rally’s technical leadership has been keen to underline, reaching halfway in front is an achievement. Finishing remains the objective. Dakar has a long memory, and it rarely forgives complacency.

Dakar, On and Off the Stages

While the rally unfolds across Saudi Arabia, Defender’s Dakar story extends beyond the bivouac. Support from partners including Castrol, YETI, Bilstein and Bell & Ross underpins the campaign, while a collaboration with Epic Games brings the Defender Dakar D7X-R into Fortnite and Rocket League, complete with official livery.

Seven stages remain. The terrain will change again. Fatigue will grow. And Dakar will continue to ask questions.

At halfway, Defender is answering them calmly. The harder half still lies ahead.

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After six demanding stages and 3,636 kilometres across Saudi Arabia, the Dacia Sandriders arrive in Riyadh leading the 2026 Dakar Rally overall. It is the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship, and the margins are still fragile, but the message is clear: Dacia is no longer learning Dakar. It is shaping it.

A dominant 1–2 finish on Stage 6 has placed the team’s cars in first, sixth, tenth and thirteenth positions overall. With seven stages and more than 4,300 kilometres still to run, the hardest work remains ahead.

Managing the First Week

Team Principal Tiphanie Isnard described the opening phase as a calculated exercise in restraint rather than aggression.

“The first week, as expected on the Dakar, was tough with four rocky stages where you needed to be patient and manage the risk with punctures. We followed the plan, stayed patient, and pushed before the Rest Day. All cars are back at the bivouac and we’re leading for Dacia. For the second week, it will still be very hard. Concentration and attention to detail will be key if we want to bring the team to victory.”

That balance between pace and preservation defined the Sandriders’ approach to week one.

Al-Attiyah’s Comeback Charge

At the centre of the story sits Nasser Al-Attiyah. Leading after Stage 2, he and navigator Fabian Lurquin slipped back to tenth after a double tyre deflation. The response was immediate.

A second-fastest time on Wednesday, followed by a commanding Stage 6 victory on Friday, lifted the pair back into the overall lead by 6 minutes and 10 seconds. At 55, Al-Attiyah continues to stretch Dakar’s benchmarks: the Stage 6 win marked a stage victory in 19 consecutive Dakar participations and leaves him one stage short of equalling the all-time record of 50 Dakar stage wins.

Pressure, Patience, and Positioning

For Sébastien Loeb and Édouard Boulanger, week one was shaped by tyre damage rather than outright pace. Seven enforced tyre changes cost time, but a strong Stage 6 secured sixth overall at the Rest Day.

Reigning W2RC champion Lucas Moraes, competing for the first time with new navigator Dennis Zenz, underlined his potential with two top-four stage times. Despite earlier issues, the pair sit tenth overall heading into week two.

Spaniards Cristina Gutiérrez and Pablo Moreno endured tyre damage early on but recovered strongly, starting the second week comfortably inside the top fifteen.

Engineering for Survival

Behind the scenes, tyre preservation has been a decisive factor. Working closely with BFGoodrich, the Dacia Sandriders focused heavily on eliminating tread punctures that had proven costly in previous editions.

Technical Director Philip Dunabin explained the thinking:

“Most of the development work focused on eliminating tread punctures. We worked with BFGoodrich on a new tyre construction that improves comfort, grip and resistance. So far, we haven’t had any tread punctures at all. The punctures we’ve seen have been sidewall-related, which opens up the next area of focus.”

The Sandrider itself continues to evolve, with upgrades aimed at weight reduction, cooling efficiency, reliability, visibility and driver comfort. A refreshed colour scheme, featuring more orange, underlines the team’s growing confidence.

The Second Half Begins

With the Rest Day complete, Dakar now turns south. Stage 7 opens week two with fast sandy tracks and a long haul toward Wadi ad-Dawasir. There is no sense of consolidation. Only momentum to protect.

The lead is real. So is the threat. Dakar rarely allows anyone to relax for long.

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For TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC, it was a day of damage limitation, measured pace, and staying in the fight.

Two DKR GR Hilux finished inside the top four, and while none claimed the stage win, the team emerged with its overall ambitions firmly intact.

From rock to sand

The move to pure dunes changed the rhythm of the rally instantly. Navigation became the defining factor, with visibility, dust, and line choice playing a greater role than outright speed.

After leading the rally heading into the stage, Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings found themselves paying the price for small mistakes in the soft terrain. Time lost through the dunes dropped them to 12th on the day, but they remain second overall — just over six minutes behind the new leaders.

With nearly 2,500 kilometres still to run, the rally is far from settled.

Podium pace for Quintero

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short delivered Toyota’s strongest result of the stage, finishing third after running near the front throughout.

Despite losing time after missing a waypoint, the #203 Hilux recovered well and crossed the line only 21 seconds behind second place. It was their second podium finish of the rally, even if their overall position remains compromised by earlier punctures.

In Dakar terms, it was a classic Quintero stage: fast, aggressive, and technically demanding.

Price and consistency

Toby Price and Armand Monleón also produced a strong performance, finishing fourth after fighting for a podium position across much of the stage.

They now sit 15th overall and remain within reach of the top ten — a realistic target for a crew still building experience in the Ultimate category.

Across all three cars, the theme was consistent: no disasters, no retirements, and steady pressure applied to the leaders.

The strategic value of survival

After more than 2,000 kilometres in seven days, the Dakar reached its rest day — always a psychological milestone as much as a physical one.

Stage 7 will resume with an 876-kilometre route to Wadi ad-Dawasir, including 462 kilometres of competitive driving. Difficult terrain and long distances remain, and for teams still in contention, simply arriving at this point without major losses is often the real victory.

Toyota leaves Stage 6 with two cars in the top four on the day, one car second overall, and all crews still operational.

In a rally where attrition defines outcomes, that matters more than any single stage result.

Key Quotes

Henk Lategan:
“It was a tricky day for us. The first part started okay, and we were running at Nasser’s pace, but we made a couple of mistakes in terms of our line through the dunes. So, it could have been a bit better. But we have a nice road position for when we resume on Sunday and there are some difficult stages coming up, so things can still change. To be close to the lead at this stage is pretty good considering how our rally started. We’ve pulled ourselves back into it and now we’ll give it our best shot in the second week.”

Seth Quintero:
“It was a good day for us. We started out front and finished out front. We could push nicely at the beginning. At one stage we had to turn around for a waypoint and that cost us a minute, which was unfortunate. From there, we kept up a good pace, passed a couple of other cars, and had a fun battle. We charged really hard. It’s impressive what the DKR GR Hilux can take because we pushed it very hard today. We drove over 900 km in total today, so I am definitely tired and ready for a rest day.”

Toby Price:
“The stage today went well. There was just so much sand and, starting where we did, it was brutal. It’s been a crazy first week, but we are still in the race. Last year we made it to this point and only did one more stage, so the goal is to get past that and keep getting experience. Next week will be as challenging as the first week, I’m sure, but I feel good physically and the car is going well, so we are happy.”

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For Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR W2RC), the 2026 Dakar Rally got underway with the opening Prologue near Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Twenty-two kilometres long, fast, narrow in places, and unforgiving of mistakes, it served as the first competitive outing for the all-new DKR GR Hilux.

It also marked the opening move in Toyota’s defence of its World Rally-Raid Championship title.

First Test for the New Hilux

After months of development and preparation, the new DKR GR Hilux finally faced competition conditions. Built around a new tubular chassis and featuring a strengthened transmission, the car was designed with Dakar’s extremes firmly in mind.

The Prologue offered an immediate taste of that variety. Crews climbed through soft desert sand in the opening half before dropping into bumpy, rocky canyon sections on the way back to the assembly point. Short in distance, but sharp enough to punish hesitation.

Quintero Sets the Early Benchmark

TGR W2RC approached the opening day conservatively, prioritising a clean run over outright risk. That approach paid off.

Seth Quintero and navigator Andrew Short led Toyota’s charge, bringing their #203 DKR GR Hilux home in fifth position. Just 14 seconds covered the gap to the lead — a strong opening statement without overreaching.

Price Begins a New Dakar Chapter

Two-time Dakar motorcycle winner Toby Price made his first competitive Dakar appearance in the Ultimate category with TGR W2RC, sharing the #204 DKR GR Hilux with navigator Armand Monleón.

Despite running into dust from competitors ahead, the pairing gained time during the second half of the Prologue and finished 16th. More importantly, the first kilometres together passed without drama — an essential step in a long rally.

Early Setback for Lategan

For Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, the day unfolded differently. Running inside the top five around halfway, their progress was halted by a puncture caused by an impact directly on the tyre valve.

The delay dropped the #202 DKR GR Hilux down the order to 47th at the finish, 1 minute 38 seconds behind stage winners Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist, who led a Ford Racing one-two. Guillaume de Mévius and Mathieu Baumel completed the Prologue podium for X-Raid.

Voices From the Bivouac

Lategan was direct about the setback.

“That was not a good start to Dakar 2026 for us. We were seriously unlucky because we hit a rock, which struck exactly on the tyre valve and caused a puncture. On a short stage like that, when you have a puncture, unfortunately you lose a lot of positions. There’s a long, long way to go and we’ll keep pushing.”

Quintero focused on the bigger picture.

“The Prologue went really well for us. It was a good start to our Dakar, and it’s been nice to get things going with our new DKR GR Hilux. A strong top-five finish is promising, and I think it’s only going to get better.”

For Price, the Prologue was about settling in.

“It was a fast stage, so it’s been nice to shake the cobwebs out. It’s the first time for me working with Armand on the Dakar and it went well. The car feels strong and I feel confident in it. We’re in the race, so let’s go for it on Stage 1.”

Dakar Proper Begins

The Prologue is only a curtain-raiser. Stage 1 begins on Sunday and brings the first full test: 518 kilometres in total, including 305 kilometres against the clock around Yanbu. Rocky sections, narrow passages and faster sandy terrain await.

Fourteen days remain. The Dakar has only just started asking questions.

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