Defender Rally achieved a historic milestone at the Desafio Ruta 40 2026 by fielding the first officially entered all-female crew in the event's history since its inception in 2010. American driver Sara Price and her navigator Saydie Gray are competing in this FIA World Rally-Raid Championship round, which runs from May 24 to 29 and serves as the third stage of the 2026 W2RC season. The duo's participation highlights growing diversity in rally-raid motorsport, coming after the team's solid performances at the Dakar Rally and Rally Raid Portugal earlier this year.
The Defender Rally team entered the demanding Argentine event with a competitive three-car lineup in the Stock category. Championship leaders Rokas Baciuska and co-driver Oriol Vidal hold the top spot with 153 points, followed by Sara Price in second with 127 points, and veteran racer Stephane Peterhansel with navigator Mika Methage in third on 118 points. For 19-year-old Saydie Gray, this marks her debut with the team, bringing her proven off-road experience from factory-backed campaigns with Can-Am and Honda. Gray and Price previously teamed up successfully to win the Norra 1000 endurance race in Baja, Mexico, in 2023.
The Desafio Ruta 40 covers more than 2,700 kilometers across Argentina's Cuyo region, including 1,699 kilometers of timed special stages featuring challenging gravel, sand, and rough terrain. Competitors are expected to face particularly tough conditions in the volcanic-sand El Nihuil dunes. Gray described the opportunity to compete with Defender Rally alongside her close friend Price as a massive step in her young career, expressing excitement about tackling one of rally-raid's iconic events.
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Team Principal Ian James emphasized that the rally represents a significant test at the halfway point of the W2RC season. He noted similarities between the Argentine landscape and classic South American Dakar Rally routes, viewing every kilometer as a chance to demonstrate the capabilities of the Defender vehicle under extreme conditions. The event provides a crucial platform for the team to maintain its championship momentum in the Stock category.
Defender Rally is campaigning the specially modified Defender Dakar D7X-R, built on the same production line as the road-going Defender Octa. The rally machine retains the standard bodyshell, transmission, and core architecture while incorporating essential upgrades such as revised suspension, enhanced cooling, and a wider track to meet FIA Stock class regulations. The D7X-R has already shown strong form in 2026, securing a Stock category victory on its Dakar debut and posting competitive times against Ultimate class vehicles in Portugal.
Baciuska and the team aim to extend their championship lead while exploring the vehicle's full potential in this iconic South American destination. The 2026 campaign receives support from official partners including Castrol, YETI, Bilstein, and Bell & Ross, along with technical suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars. As the rally progresses through its demanding stages, all attention remains on how the historic all-female crew performs alongside the team's title contenders.
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