Defender Rally Secures Another Stock Class 1-2-3 Victory
defender rally stage7 credit edophoto irinapetrichei
The Defender team has pulled off yet another 1-2-3 in the Stock class after Stage 7, a 459 kilometer blast across dry riverbeds, open dunes and rocky tracks. The winning crew completed the stage in 04:20:29, with the second-placed crew just 21 seconds behind at 04:20:50, and the third-placed crew crossing the line in 04:26:54.
Stage 7: Fast Tracks and Scattered Dunes
Today’s route was unusually brisk, rewarding high-speed machines and steady nerves. Roughly 50 kilometers of dunes were peppered through the stage, but they were more open than a sand trap and suited the Defender’s pace rather well. The combination of flat, fast sections and intermittent rocky ground produced a stage with a high average speed and plenty of dramatic moments, and it showed in the close finishing gaps.
Standings Shuffle
The second-place crew remain at the top of the official Stock category standings, while the third-placed crew have closed the gap elsewhere on the leaderboard to within 19 minutes of third overall. The result underlines the team’s consistency across a varied and demanding week.
Voices From The Cockpit
The winning crew described the stage as a different beast to what had come before, praising the speed and rhythm of the course and admitting they took considerable pleasure from driving a stage that suited the car so perfectly.
The second-placed crew said they enjoyed the mix of dunes and rocky sections and were pleased with how close the fight was, noting that the team’s steady work day after day is what counts.
The third-placed crew reported managing overheating concerns and heavy dust at times, so they took it steady in places to protect the car. They were encouraged to have gained time on a rival and aim to keep the momentum going while ensuring the car arrives back at base each evening.
Technical Take
The team’s head of technical integration highlighted that the day really played to the Defender Dakar D7X-R’s strengths, with crews reaching an average top speed of 105 kilometres per hour over a varied and testing stage. The cars continue to hold top positions in Stock, and the performance across the complete Car category, with crews sitting well inside the top 40, underlines the vehicle’s capability and reliability.
What’s Next
Stage 8 runs on Monday 12 January 2026 and promises a 483 kilometer timed leg, marking the first half of the marathon stage. The terrain and distance will test both machines and crews, so expect tactics and mechanical sympathy to be just as important as outright speed.
Zachary Skinner is the editor of TechDrivePlay.com, where tech, cars and adventure share the fast lane.
A former snowboarding pro and programmer, he brings both creative flair and technical know-how to his reviews. From high-performance cars to clever gadgets, he explores how innovation shapes the way we move, connect and live.
