SARA PRICE Bounces Back From Stage 1 Drama to Win Dakar Rally Stage 2

January 5, 2026

• SARA PRICE proved why resilience matters more than a perfect start, bouncing back from a two-hour Stage 1 stoppage to absolutely dominate Stage 2 of the Dakar Rally. The American wheeled her Defender through 400 kilometers of Saudi Arabia’s most punishing terrain – from twisting canyons to sandy plains – finishing in 4 hours 57 minutes and leading a stunning team 1-2-3 sweep in the Stock class.
• This wasn’t beginner’s luck – PRICE has conquered this exact stretch of Saudi desert twice before in SSV buggies (2024 and 2025), and that local knowledge paid dividends when visibility disappeared behind clouds of dust. She seized the lead after 70 kilometers, lost it briefly to 14-time winner Stéphane Peterhansel, then reclaimed control and never looked back despite the mental strain of near-zero visibility conditions.
• The margins tell the whole story about how competitive this field really is – just 86 seconds separated the top three finishers across 400 kilometers of brutal terrain. PRICE’s victory puts her in striking distance overall despite Sunday’s setback, while teammate Rokas Baciuška holds the Stock class lead thanks to his Stage 1 win, proving that consistency trumps individual brilliance in this marathon sport.

dakar rally, defender, f4 saudi arabia, stock class