The Dakar has rightly been called the Everest of Motorsport. It is amongst sport’s most
gruelling competitions and demands super-human levels of skill and endurance.
MARTIN BROOKS, Co-Founder: Shackleton.
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SHACKLETON X DEFENDER RALLY
OFFICIAL EXPEDITION APPAREL
Shackleton has joined forces with the Defender Rally team, equipping them with Official Expedition Apparel for Defender's entry to the Dakar Rally and FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) from 2026 onwards.
With a shared heritage in British exploration and adventure, Shackleton will equip Defender Rally drivers, mechanics and crew with expedition-grade technical apparel that's been expertly designed for human performance in extreme environments.
BRITISH EXPEDITION EXPERTISE
DISCOVER DEFENDER RALLY COLLECTION
DAKAR AND W2RC.
There are five events in the World Rally-Raid Championship. The world-famous Dakar Rally kicks off the season in January 2026, followed by events throughout the year in Portugal, Argentina, Morocco and UAE - territories with some of the most challenging terrain and climatic conditions in the world.
DAKER RALLY 2026
PROLOGUE
Defender Rally’s debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally is off to a positive start with the Defender Dakar D7X-Rs taking the top three Stock category positions in today’s Prologue, from seven Stock starters.
Sara Price, in car #504 with co-driver Sean Berriman, took the top spot with a time of 12.03.09 for the 22km special stage, swiftly followed by teammates Stéphane Peterhansel and Rokas Baciuška, just four and five seconds behind respectively.
The next quickest car after the three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs in the Stock class was the Toyota Land Cruiser of Akira Mirua, 58-seconds behind Sara.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 1
Lithuanian Rokas Baciuška and Spanish co-driver Oriol Vidal won Stage 1 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in Defender Dakar D7X-R, #502, with a time of 04:04:59.
The stage win means Rokas becomes the first ever driver in the history of the World Rally-Raid Championship to have won a stage in four different categories.
Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Mika Metge completed the Stage 48 minutes later in 4th position, after experiencing a power steering issue which caused them to slow.
It was a challenging day for Sara Price and Sean Berriman in Car #504 who were forced to stop around the 98th kilometre of the special stage with a mechanical issue caused by impact to the underbody of their car. The pair were eventually able to continue, finishing fifth 02:16:41 behind Rokas.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 2
Defender Rally achieves a 1-2-3 result on Stage 2 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock class, with American Sara Price and co-driver Sean Berriman (#504) taking the stage win with a time of 4:57:33 over today’s 400km special stage.
Following hot on their heels and in close proximity, Rokas Baciuška with Oriol Vidal (#502) finished one minute and 22 seconds later, whilst Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge (#500) completed the stage just four seconds after Rokas.
Today’s result keeps Rokas Baciuška/Oriol Vidal at the top of the Stock category standings.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 3
Three drivers, three days and three wins – Defender Rally achieves another 1-2-3 result on Stage 3 of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock class. It marks the third day in a row that the new works team have achieved a Stage win, with each driver pair taking a win each.
Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge (#500) completed Stage 3, comprising 422km of timed competition, just shy of the five-hour mark with a time of 04:59:07.
The rest of the Defender Rally duos followed close behind, with Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (#502) completing the Stage in second place, just over a minute slower, whilst Sara Price and Sean Berriman (#504) came third, two and a half minutes after ‘Mr Dakar’.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 4
Stage 4 marked the start of the first marathon, with Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge (#500) winning the timed route in just under six hours (05:52:38).
Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished in second place in today’s stage, just five minutes slower than their French teammates. In third place, Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal achieved a time of 06:04:30.
All three of the Defender Rally duos will not return to the main bivouac overnight, as marathon rules require all competitors to camp remotely without access to the team until they reach the end of the next stage.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal remain at the top of the Stock class rankings, with a gap of 42:36 over the #503 Toyota, Stéphane now in third just 01:19 further back.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 5
The completion of Stage 5 marks the end of the first demanding marathon stage. All three Defender Rally crews successfully brought their Defender Dakar D7X-Rs to the end of the stage.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (#502) achieved the top spot of Stage 5 in the Stock category, winning with a time of 4:29:32. Whilst Stéphane Peterhansel with Mika Metge (#500) finished in second place, just 37 seconds slower.
Americans Sara Price and Sean Berriman (#504) were executing a strong stage, and would have finished the race seven minutes slower than their French teammates, until the pair unfortunately received a 15-minute time penalty towards the end of the 371km stage for missing a waypoint.
Rokas and Oriol remain leaders of the Stock class rankings with a 44 minute and 32 second gap.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 6
Defender Rally has successfully made it halfway through its debut three-car Dakar Rally entry.
Six stages of the 2026 Dakar Rally are complete, with Defender Rally drivers taking the win on every stage to date in the Defender Dakar D7X-R.
Ahead of tomorrow’s Rest Day, drivers Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price and Rokas Baciuška have won two stages each.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal lead the charge in the Stock class overall rankings.
Seven stages remain in the 2026 Dakar, before an overall winner of the Stock class is crowned.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 7
Defender Rally has secured a further 1-2-3 finish, after Stage 7 saw Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge collect their third stage win in the Stock class, after navigating 459km of dry riverbeds, sand dunes and stone tracks. The pair finished the stage with a time of 04:20:29.
In second place, just 21 seconds slower, came Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal (04:20:50), with Sara Price and Sean Berriman in third (04:26:54).
Rokas and Oriol remain atop of the official Stock category rankings, and today’s result has meant Sara and Sean are less than 19 minutes off the third position.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 8
Defender Rally drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal today extended their overall lead in the Stock class through taking their third Stage win.
Rokas and Oriol finished the 483km timed section in 05:06:24, ahead of Defender Rally teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman who finished 01:44 behind. Today’s stage result means Sara and Sean move into second place, currently 02:37:51 behind Rokas and Oriol.
Unfortunately, Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge, who started today’s stage in second place, suffered a snapped alternator drive belt between KP 267 and KP 310. Though still on stage at the time of issuing this advisory, they will soon be en route back to the bivouac with the assistance of a competitor and the team expect them to be able to continue tomorrow.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 9
Topping the times in the Stock class in Stage 9 were Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, securing a ninth stage win in a row for Defender Rally. The pair finished the 410km stage in 04:36:24 – a result which also maintains their lead in the Stock class overall rankings. It’s their fourth stage victory.
Americans Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished the stage around 30 minutes later with a time of 5:06:03.
Finishing in fifth place was Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge, with a time of 05:21:36. They were delayed by a front suspension issue early in the stage, though this was soon rectified by the team at the pitstop.
Stage 9 marks the first part of the second marathon of the Dakar Rally, which is a true test of endurance, for both driver and machine. Frequent rocky sections and challenging tracks made up the majority of the stage, before a 30km finale of sand dunes. The crews will spend the night camping in the desert, with no team assistance permitted.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 10
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal have won Stage 10 of the 2026 Dakar Rally with a time of 06:09:01, taking their fifth stage win for Defender Rally in the Stock class.
Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished Stage 10 in second position with a time of 06:30:42, whilst Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge set a time of 06:31:27, securing them a third-place position.
In addition to a 1-2-3 finish for Defender Rally after Stage 10, all three crews have successfully completed the gruelling marathon stage, consisting of back-to-back stages without repair or maintenance from the Defender Rally team.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal remain leaders of the Stock class overall rankings.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 11
Stage 11 of the Stock class was won today by Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal with a time of 03:28:30, marking their sixth stage win for Defender Rally.
Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge finished Stage 11 in second place, just 49 seconds slower than the winners. Despite leading the stage from a time perspective, Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished in third place after incurring a 30-minute time penalty due a precautionary differential change ahead of today’s competition.
Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal remain leaders of the Stock class overall rankings.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 12
Defender Rally drivers Sara Price and Sean Berriman won Stage 12 in the Stock class on the penultimate day of the 2026 Dakar Rally, with a time of 4:17:35.
Just over a minute slower, Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge secured the second position in 4:19:00, whilst Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal finished third with a time of 4:19:45.
The timed section of Stage 12 was 310km, including fast tracks in riverbeds, mountain passes and rocky sections.
Ahead of tomorrow’s final stage, Rokas and Oriol are leading the official Stock class rankings.
DAKER RALLY 2026
STAGE 13
Defender Rally have won the 2026 Dakar Rally, the toughest off-road challenge in the world, in their debut year, as drivers Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal win the Stock class in the Defender Dakar D7X-R.
After two weeks of racing over relentlessly tough terrain, fellow teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman finished in second place, whilst ‘Mr Dakar’ Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Mika Metge finished in fourth position in the Dakar Rally Stock class rankings.
The overall Stock class win followed Rokas and Oriol claiming victory in today’s Stage 13 competition in just 55 minutes and 51 seconds, with Stephane and Mika finishing second, and Sara and Sean completing today’s result in third.
The trio of Defender Rally crews achieved a ‘1-2-3’ result across 10 of the 13 stages, demonstrating dedication, precision and unwavering spirit. And over the 14-days of gruelling competition, the three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs racked up a combined total of 24,000km traversing the Saudi Arabian desert.
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The Defender team – drivers, mechanics, engineers and all support staff – will be working in the toughest of conditions for extended periods of time on all W2RC events, so knowing that they will be protected by Shackleton apparel will be a key factor in our drive for success.
RYAN TAYLOR, Head of Partnerships & Sponsorships at JLR Motorsport.
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TESTED TO EXTREMES.
Shackleton’s apparel is tested and proven on expedition in extreme desert, mountain and polar environments, making it perfectly suited to maximise the performance of Defender Rally team members. Desert temperatures are often above 40 degrees Celsius in the day and below freezing at night, with frequent high winds and sandstorms.
DISCOVER DEFENDER RALLY COLLECTION
We are in the business of equipping adventurers with the technical performance apparel they need to survive and thrive in extreme environments. We’re excited to equip the whole Defender Rally team with exactly the right kit to get the job done.
IAN HOLDCROFT: Co-Founder, Shackleton.
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JOIN A CHALLENGE
Join us for the SHACKLETON X DEFENDER RALLY CHALLENGE in January 2027. We are currently taking in expressions of interests in our forthcoming expedition challenge. Drive a stage of the Dakar, camp under the stars, learn desert survival and stay in the region’s most luxurious hotels.
REGISTER MY INTEREST
SHACKLETON CHALLENGES
