Halfway through its first-ever Dakar Rally, Defender Rally has already crossed a significant threshold. Not just in distance, but in credibility.

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.