The 2026 Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina witnessed a historic achievement as all three Defender Dakar D7X-R race cars crossed the finish line, securing a clean sweep of the podium in the Stock class. This rally-raid event, known for its extreme challenges, saw Stephane Peterhansel and Mika Metge claim victory with an overall time of 18:11:12. Rokas Baciuska and Oriol Vidal followed in second place at 18:20:30, while Sara Price and Saydiie Gray completed the sweep in third with a time of 19:06:04.
Dominance in the Stock Class
For a programme still building its rally-raid record, finishing one-two-three is an exceptional accomplishment. The three crews also placed 18th, 19th, and 20th overall in the Car category. It is important to note that the D7X-R competes in the Stock class for production-based vehicles, while the cars ahead in the overall standings were running in the T1+ Ultimate category, an unrestricted class built for outright speed.
What the Defender Dakar D7X-R Is and Is Not
The D7X-R is not a ground-up race car. It is based on the production Defender OCTA and competes in the Stock class, meaning its core body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout carry over from the road-going model. Modifications to meet FIA rally-raid regulations include a wider track, revised suspension, and enhanced cooling systems.
Durability Across Mountains, Dunes, and Riverbeds
The Desafio Ruta 40 covered 1,523 kilometers of timed stages. The route started in San Juan, pushed into the Mendoza region, cut through sections of the Andes, and returned to San Juan. Drivers faced dry riverbeds, high-altitude mountain sections, and deep sand dunes throughout the event. The final stage was 340 kilometers long, with Baciuska and Vidal winning it in 2:53:05, followed by Peterhansel and Metge in second, and Price and Gray in third. This clean sweep on the last day sealed the overall podium sweep.
A notable highlight of the rally was Sara Price and Saydiie Gray becoming the first all-female crew to compete in the Desafio Ruta 40. They also won a stage during the event. It was Gray's first competitive outing with Defender Rally.
Driver Perspectives on Demanding Conditions
Peterhansel described the final stage as especially demanding but expressed positivity about the car and the team's development throughout the rally. Baciuska faced a harder week, dealing with illness midway through the competition, but credited the mechanics and support crew for keeping the car running strong. Price noted that the terrain was tougher than expected, adding that the rally provided important learning and confidence for both her and Gray going into future events.
What Comes Next
Following the successful Argentina campaign, Defender Rally will head to Morocco for the next round of the World Rally-Raid Championship. The Rallye du Maroc is scheduled to take place from September 28 to October 3, 2026.
