Sara Price Joins Defender for 2026 Dakar Rally Team Debut
Defender completes its world-class driver lineup by signing Dakar Rally stage-winner Sara Price, preparing for the brand’s competitive manufacturer debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally, the ultimate off-road test of endurance. Price joins fourteen-time champion Stéphane Peterhansel and rising Lithuanian talent Rokas Baciuška in three competition-spec Defender D7X-R rally cars that will contest the ‘Stock’ category for production-based vehicles.
Price discovered her racing passion on two wheels at eight in southern California. She amassed nineteen national titles within eight years before turning professional and claiming an X-Games medal. She then switched to four wheels, winning the legendary Baja Series SCORE International in Trophy Truck and becoming Chip Ganassi Racing’s first female race winner in the all-electric Extreme E championship.
In 2024, she made her Dakar Rally debut in the SSV class, became the first American woman and only the third woman ever to win a stage, finished fourth overall and collected the best rookie award. Price now partners Defender as the British adventure brand embarks on its inaugural works campaign.
“To join the works Defender team in its competitive debut at the Dakar Rally will be a huge honour, and I cannot wait to start with the team. The Dakar Rally is the pinnacle of rally-raid competition, and I’m incredibly proud to have competed in this competition before. Defender is an iconic vehicle with extreme capabilities and a brand fuelled by purpose, so to drive for this British adventure brand at such a massive moment in its history is a fantastic accomplishment for me.
The testing and preparation work behind the scenes is awe-inspiring, and I’m excited to get behind the wheel. As a born racer, I’m very competitive and working with Defender, I know that we are aiming high and won’t rest until we succeed.” Sara Price, Defender Rally driver.
“Wheels are well and truly in motion for our Dakar Rally debut. Testing is going well, and we have now completed our driver lineup. Signing the brilliantly talented Sara Price is a huge moment for Defender. We have a powerful, capable and durable 4x4 in the Defender Dakar D7X-R, and our skilled and strong-minded drivers will showcase both Defender and explore the limits of human endurance as they navigate the desert dunes and arid plains of the Dakar Rally in January.” Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender.
Defender continues to prepare for the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship, having already carried out successful tests across diverse off-road terrains. The brand will field all three drivers in its manufacturer team debut at the Dakar Rally, after which Peterhansel and Baciuška will tackle the remaining W2RC rounds.
“We couldn’t be happier to have secured such a formidable talent in Sara Price. With trailblazing achievements to her name already, including Dakar stage wins, coupled with her determination and passion for the sport, Sara is a perfect fit for Defender. She has earned this opportunity, so we are extremely pleased to have her on board. She joins a super-strong Defender driver lineup alongside Stéphane Peterhansel and Rokas Baciuška. I do not doubt that our excellent driver lineup can help us secure our desired results.” James Barclay, Managing Director of JLR Motorsport.