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DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
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DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW

11 May 2026

Defender Rally will make motorsport history in the third round of the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship, the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina, from 24 – 29 May 2026. 

  • Defender Rally returns to competition with its debut entry to the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina from 24‑29 May 2026
  • Three‑crew Defender Rally line‑up continues World Rally‑Raid Championship title bid in the Stock class after success in the Dakar and Portugal rounds
  • Sara Price will be joined by navigator Saydiie Gray, together the first all‑female crew to officially compete at the Desafío Ruta 40 since it began in 2010
  • Championship leaders Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, along with Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge, complete the Defender Rally entry
  • Defender Rally will compete with the Defender Dakar D7X‑R, derived from a Defender OCTA, in the ‘Stock’ class for production‑based cars

Competing for Defender Rally in the Stock class is the team’s world‑class line‑up of crews: Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, who currently lead the Stock rankings with 153 points; Sara Price, in second on 127 points, who will be joined by co‑driver Saydiie Gray in a new pairing; and Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge, currently third with 118 points.  

DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW

The coming together of US duo Sara and Saydiie marks the first time an all‑female crew has officially competed at the Desafío Ruta 40 since it began in 2010. In her first outing for Defender Rally, Saydiie takes on the role of navigator for Round 3 of the W2RC. The 19‑year‑old already has a wealth of off‑road experience including factory‑team competition with Can‑Am and Honda. Sara and Saydiie won their first race together in 2023 at the NORRA 1000, a five‑day off‑road endurance race in Baja, Mexico. 

DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL-FEMALE CREW
DEFENDER RALLY BREAKS NEW GROUND IN ARGENTINA WITH ALL‑FEMALE CREW

Joining Defender Rally team for the race in Argentina is a massive step for me and I’m buzzing to take on the challenge. Competing with a friend by my side just makes this even more special and makes me even more determined. We’re here to learn, push, and make our mark on the Desafío Ruta 40.

Saydiie Gray
Co‑driver for Defender Rally

Held in the Cuyo region of Argentina, the Desafío Ruta 40 spans a total route of more than 2,700km, of which 1,699km are timed stages. The race promises technical challenges with rough and dry terrain with a mix of gravel and sand, including crossing the El Nihuil dunes – a landscape made up of several layers of volcanic sand.  

It’s time for another new challenge for our team, as we reach the halfway point of the season with the Desafío Ruta 40. I was extremely impressed with the performance from the entire team at Round 2 in Portugal, so I’m excited to see how the team performs in yet another demanding location. The Argentinian round features similar settings to the historic years of the Dakar Rally when it was held in South America. Every kilometre is a chance to improve, push harder and demonstrate what Defender is capable of.

Ian James
Team Principal for Defender Rally

The team continue to compete in the Defender Dakar D7X‑R, the tough rally car which has been modified from its Defender OCTA origin to meet the latest FIA Stock class regulations.  Built on the same production line as production Defender, it carries the same bodyshell, transmission, driveline layout, and D7x body architecture as the OCTA. It is modified to meet FIA regulations and to handle the extremes of W2RC competition, with adjustments such as enhanced cooling, new suspension and a wider track. 

The Defender Dakar D7X‑R has already demonstrated its durability and capability in the 2026 W2RC after winning in the Stock class at the Dakar Rally, the team’s debut entry, and successfully completing the bp Ultimate Rally‑Raid Portugal where the crews finished with overall times amongst the Ultimate class.  

Myself and Oriol are really looking forward to competing in Argentina. Our aim will be to extend our lead in the championship, but to also enjoy it, have fun and see what Defender is capable of in this famous racing country.

Rokas Baciuška
Defender Rally driver

I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel of the D7X‑R, and this time with Saydiie as my navigator. We have loads of racing experience together so I’m confident we will put that to good use in Argentina. I’m sure there will be challenges thrown our way, but with our incredible team behind us, there’s nothing we can’t handle.

Sara Price
Defender Rally driver

I’m very fond of racing in Argentina. I’ve had success with stage wins and overall victories there during the Dakar Rally's South American era. It’s a terrain I’m familiar with but this will be a new experience for Mika and myself, racing in the Defender Dakar D7X‑R. I’m looking forward to it!

Stéphane Peterhansel
Defender Rally driver

Supporting the team’s efforts in Argentina are Official Partners Castrol, YETI, Bilstein and Bell & Ross, along with official suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars.  

Further information

Rose Jackson  

Global Communications and PR Manager, Defender Rally  

M: +44 (0) 7384 244015 

E: rjackso9@jaguarlandrover.com 

  

Paige Maguire  

Senior PR and Digital Officer, Defender Rally  

M: +44 (0) 7552 86611 

E: pmaguir2@jaguarlandrover.com 

  

Notes to Editors

About Defender 

Defender embraces the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed, highly desirable and seriously durable. A modern‑day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future. 

Available in 90, 110 and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own. 

As part of our vision of modern luxury by design, Defender 110 is available as an electric hybrid.  

Defender Hard Top means business, with 90 and 110 body styles for professional capability. 

The tough luxury Defender OCTA is the master of extreme performance – taking performance and capability to another level on and off‑road.  

A beacon of liberty that can trace its roots back to the first Land Rover in 1948, Defender is a brand that supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust.  

The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover – a mark of trust built on more than 75 years of expertise in technology and world‑leading off‑road capability. 

Defender is designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands alongside Range Rover, Discovery and Jaguar. 

Defender Rally 

Defender embraces the impossible, and Defender Rally embodies this to the extreme, demonstrating the ultimate capability, reliability and endurance in the most challenging of environments.   

In 2025 Defender became the official car partner of the Dakar Rally, the partnership set to continue in 2026, 2027 and 2028. From 2026, Defender will also compete in the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC), entering the ‘Stock’ category – this being the first of a three‑year programme.  

 
Defender’s capability is designed to take on the most challenging of conditions, with Dakar Rally being the ultimate test. The competition car retains the same tough, purpose‑engineered D7x body architecture as the Defender, based on a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction to create a stiff body structure, in addition to featuring the 4.4‑litre twin turbo V8 engine from Defender OCTA to provide exceptional driveability.   

 
While Defender did not compete in Dakar until 2026, it played a key role at the 2025 rally as the event’s official vehicle partner. A fleet of 20 Defenders supported the event, which began in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, and ended in Shubaytah, transporting race officials and VIP media. A further six highly specialised Defender recce vehicles will be used by Dakar Rally organisers to plan the routes for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 events. 

Important notice 
JLR is constantly seeking ways to improve the specification, design and production of its vehicles, parts and accessories and alterations take place continually. Whilst every effort is made to produce up‑to‑date literature, this document should not be regarded as an infallible guide to current specifications or availability, nor does it constitute an offer for the sale of any particular vehicle, part or accessory. All figures are manufacturer’s estimates. 

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