- Defender, the British adventure brand, has completed its three‑car driver/co‑driver line‑up ahead of the 2026 Dakar Rally, the halo event of the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC)
- Mika Metge will navigate for Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel; Sean Berriman for motocross champion and four‑time Dakar stage‑winner Sara Price; and Oriol Vidal for rising Lithuanian star Rokas Baciuška
- Fundamental for rally success and in addition to navigating, co‑drivers are responsible for strategising and timekeeping through the extreme conditions that are integral to the Dakar Rally
- Each driver/co‑driver pairing will race the Defender Dakar D7X‑R in the ‘Stock’ category for production‑based vehicles*
- Alpinestars also joins the team as an Official Supplier, providing driver racewear and ensuring the highest level of performance and protection for the Defender competitors
Ahead of its debut entry into the 2026 Dakar Rally – the halo race in the World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC) – British adventure brand Defender has signed three talented co‑drivers in Mika Metge, Oriol Vidal and Sean Berriman.
Mika will be competing alongside Stéphane Peterhansel, winner of the Dakar Rally an incredible 14 times. Frenchman Metge had a career in motorcycle racing with several top ten Dakar finishes on two wheels, including a stage win, before transitioning to four‑wheeled rally raid events. Having taken part in the Dakar Rally a total of 11 times on both bike and as a co‑driver, he is a competitive and experienced figure in the rally world with a deep knowledge of the required strategy and terrain.
FULL TEAM LINE‑UP: DEFENDER ANNOUNCES CO‑DRIVER TRIO AHEAD OF THE 2026 DAKAR RALLY
FULL TEAM LINE-UP: DEFENDER ANNOUNCES CO-DRIVER TRIO AHEAD OF THE 2026 DAKAR RALLY
Joining Rokas Baciuška, double world champion in the SSV (2022–23) and Challenger (2024) categories, is Spanish‑born Oriol Vidal. Vidal is a distinguished rally‑raid co‑driver and has forged a remarkable career, known largely for his success in the T4 (SSV) category. After starting out in quad racing and earning regional junior titles, both nationally and internationally up until 2016, he transitioned to rally‑raid and made his debut at Dakar Rally in 2017. With Rokas, the pair cinched the T4 World Championship title in 2023 and again in the Challenger Category in 2024. The pair reunite to represent Defender in the world’s toughest motorsport challenge.
South African driver Sean Berriman will be competing in Dakar 2026 with Sara Price, 2024’s ‘best rookie’1. Following success as a duo in the SSV category at Dakar Rally 2025, they secured a Stage 4 win. In addition, Berriman placed 4th in the 2025 FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship SSV co‑driver standings, making him a solid partner for Price in the desert. Berriman’s most notable success is his 2020 Dakar Rally SSV win as co‑driver, which cemented his reputation in this sport.
FULL TEAM LINE‑UP: DEFENDER ANNOUNCES CO‑DRIVER TRIO AHEAD OF THE 2026 DAKAR RALLY
Known as the hero race of the W2RC, the 2026 Dakar Rally will run from 03‑17 January starting and finishing in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Entrants will race around a loop of approximately 8,000km with around 5,000km of timed sections in the gruelling conditions of the Saudi desert.
Co‑drivers play an imperative role in navigating the route under high‑pressure. Each morning, co‑drivers are provided with a digital roadbook, a detailed navigation guide consisting of symbols, hazards and distances for the stage. Co‑drivers are the logistics coordinators, timekeepers and strategists throughout each stage, interpreting the route and leading on navigation, whilst the driver focuses on crossing the dunes and ever‑changing terrain ahead as quickly as possible.
I’m thrilled to be joining forces with Rokas once again, supporting him in his Stock category debut for this unbelievable motorsport event. Defender is iconic, so I’m honoured to be part of the first Defender Rally manufacturer team, to prove Defender’s capabilities in the Dakar Rally. With Defender’s backing we’re ready to push ourselves and the D7X‑R to the max!
Oriol Vidal
Co‑Driver to Rokas Baciuška
Further solidifying the team, Defender Rally will work with Alpinestars, the world’s premier motorsports performance protection manufacturer, as an Official Supplier. The alliance will provide Defender Rally drivers and co‑drivers with bespoke rally racewear, curated to meet the highest standards of performance, protection, comfort and durability in extreme conditions. Alpinestars has been racing at the highest levels of motorsport for nearly 60‑years and this collaboration contributes to the team’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and safety in motorsport.
Defender Rally is proud to partner with Alpinestars to support us in our pursuit for success as we push our cars to the extreme in the W2RC. With a strong reputation for providing uncompromising protection, performance and comfort, we know our drivers will be fully equipped to race. Likewise, it’s great to have such a robust team of co‑drivers on board to support Sara, Stéphane and Rokas. Now, with a full team set‑up for Dakar and the 2026 World Rally‑Raid Championship, Defender is ready to embrace the impossible and take on the toughest race in the world.
Ryan Taylor
Head of Partnerships, Defender Rally
It’s an honour to work with the new Defender Rally team on their ambitious rally‑raid journey and we look forward to utilising our Dakar experience to support and protect their top‑level drivers and co‑drivers across the various competitions and terrains they will operate.
