Defender Rally makes history in Argentina with all-female crew at Desafio Ruta 40
Defender Rally heads to Argentina's Desafio Ruta 40 with a history-making all-female crew, as Sara Price and Saydiie Gray lead the team's World Rally-Raid Championship Stock class title challenge.
Defender is making motorsport history at the 2026 Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina as American rally driver Sara Price and navigator Saydiie Gray become the first officially entered all-female crew to compete in the rally since its inception in 2010.
The event, running from May 24-29, marks Round 3 of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), where Defender Rally will continue its Stock category title challenge following strong performances at the Dakar Rally and Rally Raid Portugal.
Defender Rally heads into the event with a formidable three-car line-up. Championship leaders Rokas Baciuka and co-driver Oriol Vidal currently top the Stock standings with 153 points. Price sits second in the championship on 127 points, while Stephane Peterhansel and navigator Mika Metge occupy third with 118 points.
For Gray, the Argentina outing marks her first appearance with Defender Rally. Despite being only 19 years old, she already brings extensive off-road racing experience, including factory-backed campaigns with Can-Am and Honda. Gray and Price have enjoyed success together before, winning the Norra 1000 off-road endurance race in Baja, Mexico, in 2023.
Speaking ahead of the event, Gray said joining Defender Rally for the Argentine challenge was “a massive step” in her career and added that competing alongside a close friend made the experience even more special.
The Desafo Ruta 40, held in Argentina’s Cuyo region, covers over 2,700km in total, including 1,699km of timed special stages. Competitors will tackle a punishing mix of gravel, sand and rough terrain, with the volcanic-sand El Nihuil dunes expected to be among the toughest sections of the rally.
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said the event would provide another major test for the team as it reaches the halfway stage of the W2RC season. He highlighted similarities between the Argentine terrain and the classic South American editions of the Dakar Rally, describing every kilometre as an opportunity to showcase the Defender’s capability in extreme conditions.
The team will once again campaign the Defender Dakar D7X-R, a heavily modified rally machine based on the production Defender Octa. Built on the same production line as the road-going model, the D7X-R retains the standard bodyshell, transmission and D7x architecture, while incorporating rally-specific upgrades including revised suspension, enhanced cooling systems and a wider track to comply with FIA Stock class regulations.
The D7X-R has already proven its competitiveness in the 2026 season, taking victory in the Stock category on its Dakar Rally debut and delivering strong pace at Rally Raid Portugal, where it posted times competitive with cars in the premier Ultimate class.
Baciuska said the team’s goal in Argentina would be to extend its championship lead while continuing to explore the full potential of the Defender in one of rally raid racing’s most iconic destinations.
Price added that she was excited to return to the cockpit alongside Gray, emphasising the duo’s shared racing experience and confidence heading into the demanding Argentine stages.
Meanwhile, Peterhansel, one of the most successful Dakar competitors in history expressed enthusiasm about returning to Argentina, recalling his previous victories during the Dakar Rally’s South American era while looking forward to experiencing the terrain in the Defender Dakar D7X-R for the first time.
Defender Rally’s 2026 campaign is supported by official partners Castrol, YETI, Bilstein and Bell and Ross, alongside official suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars.
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Defender is making motorsport history at the 2026 Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina as American rally driver Sara Price and navigator Saydiie Gray become the first officially entered all-female crew to compete in the rally since its inception in 2010.
The event, running from May 24-29, marks Round 3 of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), where Defender Rally will continue its Stock category title challenge following strong performances at the Dakar Rally and Rally Raid Portugal.
Defender Rally heads into the event with a formidable three-car line-up. Championship leaders Rokas Baciuka and co-driver Oriol Vidal currently top the Stock standings with 153 points. Price sits second in the championship on 127 points, while Stephane Peterhansel and navigator Mika Metge occupy third with 118 points.
For Gray, the Argentina outing marks her first appearance with Defender Rally. Despite being only 19 years old, she already brings extensive off-road racing experience, including factory-backed campaigns with Can-Am and Honda. Gray and Price have enjoyed success together before, winning the Norra 1000 off-road endurance race in Baja, Mexico, in 2023.
Speaking ahead of the event, Gray said joining Defender Rally for the Argentine challenge was “a massive step” in her career and added that competing alongside a close friend made the experience even more special.
The Desafo Ruta 40, held in Argentina’s Cuyo region, covers over 2,700km in total, including 1,699km of timed special stages. Competitors will tackle a punishing mix of gravel, sand and rough terrain, with the volcanic-sand El Nihuil dunes expected to be among the toughest sections of the rally.
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said the event would provide another major test for the team as it reaches the halfway stage of the W2RC season. He highlighted similarities between the Argentine terrain and the classic South American editions of the Dakar Rally, describing every kilometre as an opportunity to showcase the Defender’s capability in extreme conditions.
The team will once again campaign the Defender Dakar D7X-R, a heavily modified rally machine based on the production Defender Octa. Built on the same production line as the road-going model, the D7X-R retains the standard bodyshell, transmission and D7x architecture, while incorporating rally-specific upgrades including revised suspension, enhanced cooling systems and a wider track to comply with FIA Stock class regulations.
The D7X-R has already proven its competitiveness in the 2026 season, taking victory in the Stock category on its Dakar Rally debut and delivering strong pace at Rally Raid Portugal, where it posted times competitive with cars in the premier Ultimate class.
Baciuska said the team’s goal in Argentina would be to extend its championship lead while continuing to explore the full potential of the Defender in one of rally raid racing’s most iconic destinations.
Price added that she was excited to return to the cockpit alongside Gray, emphasising the duo’s shared racing experience and confidence heading into the demanding Argentine stages.
Meanwhile, Peterhansel, one of the most successful Dakar competitors in history expressed enthusiasm about returning to Argentina, recalling his previous victories during the Dakar Rally’s South American era while looking forward to experiencing the terrain in the Defender Dakar D7X-R for the first time.
Defender Rally’s 2026 campaign is supported by official partners Castrol, YETI, Bilstein and Bell and Ross, alongside official suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars.
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