SARA PRICE Joins Land Rover’s Elite Dakar Squad for Defender D7X-R Debut

November 25, 2025

• Land Rover has assembled a powerhouse team for their 2026 Dakar Rally debut, pairing American racing star SARA PRICE with legendary 14-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel and Rokas Baciuška. This marks a significant moment as Price brings her proven off-road credentials to one of motorsport’s most grueling challenges aboard the purpose-built Defender D7X-R.
• The Defender D7X-R represents Land Rover’s serious commitment to the newly created Stock category in the World Rally-Raid Championship, transforming a production OCTA into a desert-ready warrior. Starting with the road car’s 4.4-liter V8, engineers added crucial race modifications including a massive 550-liter fuel tank, 35-inch tires, enhanced cooling systems, and competition-grade safety equipment while maintaining the vehicle’s production foundation.
• With the 2026 Dakar Rally spanning nearly 8,000 kilometers from January 3rd to 17th, PRICE and her teammates will be among the first competitors to test the viability of the Stock category concept. Land Rover’s ambitious entry signals their intent to claim the inaugural title while providing Price with a platform to showcase her talents on rallying’s biggest stage against the world’s finest desert racers.

dakar rally, fia world rally-raid championship, land rover defender, stock category