Defender Rally Makes History In Argentina With All-Female Crew

Defender Rally is writing motorsport history at the 2026 Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina. American rally driver Sara Price and navigator Saydie Gray have become the first officially entered all-female crew to compete in the rally since its inception in 2010. The event, held from May 24 to 29, serves as Round 3 of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), where Defender Rally continues its Stock category title challenge following strong showings at the Dakar Rally and Rally Raid Portugal.

Defender Rally enters the event with a strong three-car lineup. Championship leaders Rokas Baciuska and co-driver Oriol Vidal currently top the Stock standings with 153 points. Price sits second with 127 points, while legendary racer Stephane Peterhansel and navigator Mika Methage occupy third place with 118 points.

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For Gray, the Argentina outing marks her debut with Defender Rally. At just 19 years old, she brings extensive off-road racing experience, including factory-backed campaigns with Can-Am and Honda. Gray and Price have previously raced together successfully, winning the Norra 1000 off-road endurance race in Baja, Mexico, in 2023. Gray described joining Defender Rally for the Argentine challenge as "a massive step" in her career, adding that competing alongside a close friend made the experience especially meaningful.

The Desafio Ruta 40, held in Argentina's Cuyo region, covers over 2,700km in total, including 1,699km of timed special stages. Competitors face punishing gravel, sand, and rough terrain, with the volcanic-sand El Nihuil dunes expected to be among the most demanding sections.

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Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, noted that the event presents another major test as the team reaches the halfway point of the W2RC season. He highlighted similarities between the Argentine terrain and classic South American editions of the Dakar Rally, describing every kilometre as an opportunity to showcase the Defender's capability under extreme conditions.

The team is campaigning 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 competitive in 2026, winning the Stock category on its Dakar Rally debut and posting times rivaling premier Ultimate class cars at Rally Raid Portugal. Baciuska stated the team aims to extend its championship lead while exploring the Defender's full potential in one of rally raid racing's most iconic destinations.

Defender Rally's 2026 campaign is supported by official partners Castrol, YETI, Bilstein, and Bell and Ross, alongside suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars.

Disclaimer: "This article is a paid partnership. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the independent editorial stance of the NDTV Auto team."