Defender Rally Names Star Co-Drivers for Dakar 2026
Ahead of its debut in the 2026 Dakar Rally, the headline event of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship, British adventure brand Defender has signed three accomplished co-drivers in Mika Metge, Oriol Vidal and Sean Berriman to strengthen the Defender Rally team.
Mika Metge will partner with Stéphane Peterhansel, the 14-time Dakar Rally winner. The Frenchman built a notable motorcycle racing career with several top-ten Dakar finishes on two wheels, including a stage win, before moving to four-wheeled rally-raid. With 11 Dakar appearances across both bike and co-driver roles, he brings a competitive edge, strategic insight, and deep terrain knowledge to the World Rally-Raid Championship programme.
Spanish-born Oriol Vidal reunites with Rokas Baciuška, the double world champion in the SSV categories in 2022 and 2023 and the Challenger class in 2024. Vidal forged a distinguished rally-raid career after early success in quad racing and junior titles up to 2016, then made his Dakar debut in 2017. Together, he and Rokas captured the T4 World Championship in 2023 and the Challenger crown in 2024. They rejoin to represent Defender in what many call the world’s most formidable motorsport challenge.
South African co-driver Sean Berriman will compete at Dakar 2026 with Sara Price, recognised as 2024’s best rookie. The pair triumphed together in the SSV category at the Dakar Rally 2025 with a Stage 4 win, and Berriman finished fourth in the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship SSV co-driver standings. His standout result remains the 2020 Dakar Rally SSV victory as co-driver, a milestone that underlines his consistency in desert racing.
Known as the hero race of the W2RC, the 2026 Dakar Rally takes place from January 3 to 17, starting and finishing in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Crews will tackle an approximately 8,000 km loop, including around 5,000 km of timed special stages through demanding Saudi desert terrain that tests reliability, navigation and race strategy.
Co-drivers play a vital role in this environment. Each morning, they receive a digital roadbook that outlines symbols, hazards, and distances for the stage. They manage logistics, timekeeping, and strategy in real-time, interpreting the route and leading navigation so the driver can tackle dunes and changing surfaces at maximum pace. This precision defines rally-raid success for teams chasing Dakar Rally results and W2RC points.
“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!” said Oriol Vidal, Co-Driver to Rokas Baciuška.
Defender Rally will also partner 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 engineered for performance, protection, comfort and durability in extreme conditions. With nearly 60 years at the top level of motorsport, Alpinestars supports the team’s commitment to excellence, innovation and safety.
"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," said 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", said Christopher Hillard, Head of Communications, Alpinestars.
Mika Metge, Co-driver to Stéphane Peterhansel, said: “Driving alongside Stéphane as part of the highly anticipated Defender Rally team is a true career highlight. An icon like Defender joining the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship is a monumental moment for off-road racing, and I can’t wait to return to the Dakar Rally and make my mark. There’s nobody better to race with than the Dakar legend himself!”
Sean Berriman, Co-driver to Sara Price, said: “It’s a privilege to be competing at Dakar 2026 and to tackle the dunes again with my 2025 driver, Sara Price. I’m proud to represent such an iconic, unstoppable brand in its first Dakar entry, too. The Defender’s ethos of embracing the impossible will help push us to maximise the successes we achieved in the 2025 SSV category. The Stock category better be ready.”
