CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ, DANIA AKEEL & SARA PRICE Lead Women Into Dakar 2026

December 20, 2025

• CRISTINA GUTIÉRREZ lands a coveted seat in Dacia’s Ultimate category lineup, joining the manufacturer’s four-car assault alongside nine-time WRC champion Sébastien Loeb and defending W2RC champion Lucas Moraes. The Spanish driver teams with navigator Pablo Moreno in what represents a significant step up in machinery and factory support for the experienced rally-raid competitor.
• DANIA AKEEL returns to defend her strong Challenger class position with BBR’s Taurus T3 Max, backed by the Odyssey Academy program. The Saudi driver faces serious competition from defending champions Nicolas Cavigliasso and VALENTINA PERTEGARINI, plus newly-crowned FIA World Baja Cup Challenger champion Sergei Remmenik, setting up a fierce battle in the 18-crew field.
• SARA PRICE makes her Dakar debut in the new Stock category as part of the Defender Rally team’s three-car effort, joining French legend Stéphane Peterhansel and Lithuanian Rokas Baciuška. The American racer, who has proven herself across multiple motorsports disciplines, brings significant experience to the series-production class challenge against Toyota’s established Land Cruiser program.
• The women’s representation spans multiple categories with REBECCA BUSI piloting X-Raid’s sole Fenic in Challenger, while LUCIE BAUD co-drives with husband Lionel in Ultimate’s diesel Mini entry. ALIYYAH KOLOC and LAIA SANZ round out the female driver contingent, with navigator VALENTINA PERTEGARINI representing women in the crucial passenger seat role where split-second decisions can make or break rally-raid campaigns.

challenger, dakar rally, stock, ultimate