Sara Price has joined Land Rover for the 2026 Dakar Rally, completing the three-car lineup as she partners with Rokas Baciuška and Stéphane Peterhansel.

2026 will be her third Dakar after running the two latest editions in the SSV category for Can-Am. She finished fourth in class at her debut in 2024, where she became the first American woman to win a Dakar stage and third all time. Her 2025 race was set back by fuel issues that knocked her out of overall contention, but she ended it on a high note with back-to-back stage wins in a three-victory effort.

Despite finishing 27th, Price left Dakar third in SSV points. She certainly would be a contender for the World Rally-Raid Championship if not for the fact that she’s racing a part-time schedule, something she’s long hoped to change someday but has had little luck due to a lack of funding. Likewise, only Baciuška and Peterhansel will be doing the full 2026 W2RC with Land Rover while Price is only for Dakar, though being a three-driver team at the season opener followed by two cars the rest of the year had always been the plan.

“To join the works Defender team in its competitive debut at the Dakar Rally will be a huge honor, and I cannot wait to get started with the team,” said Price, who now moves to Stock. “The Dakar Rally is the pinnacle of rally-raid competition and I’m extremely proud to have competed in this competition before. Defender is an iconic vehicle with extreme capabilities, as well as a brand fueled by purpose, so to drive for this British adventure brand at such a huge moment in its history is an amazing accomplishment for me.

“The testing and preparation work that is going behind the scenes is insanely impressive to see and I’m excited to get behind the wheel. As a born racer, I’m very competitive and working with Defender I know that we are aiming high and won’t rest until we succeed.”

Peterhansel, a 14-time Dakar winner, and Baciuška, a two-time W2RC UTV champion, were officially announced as Land Rover drivers earlier in May. The former had been testing the team’s Defender Dakar D7X‑R in the month leading up to their reveal. Baciuška, like Price, is a Can-Am athlete.

Land Rover’s new rally raid division is contracted for three years from 2026 to 2028.

“We couldn’t be happier to have secured such a formidable talent in Sara Price,” started Jaguar Land Rover Motorsport managing director James Barcley. “With trailblazing achievements to her name already including Dakar stage wins, coupled with her determination and passion for the sport, Sara is a perfect fit for Defender. She has earned this opportunity and so we are extremely pleased to have her on board with us. She joins a super-strong Defender driver line-up alongside Stéphane Peterhansel and Rokas Baciuška and I have no doubt that our excellent driver line up can help us secure the results we are aiming for.”