We’re at the 2026 Dakar Rally with the Defender Rally Team! Our very own Mercedes Lilienthal was invited to Saudi Arabia to cover Stage 2 and Stage 3 happenings, Defender and their trio of teams as they competed in AlUla. Her first full day in Saudi Arabia was met with wonderment, history, and an unexpected meeting of two new friends.
This recap reel highlights my time getting to the bivouac and documenting various rally teams as they near Stage 2’s finish line. A caravan of Defender 4x4s left Habitas, AlUla, where were were staying, and made it to the bivouac in time to see some desert racing in action. The bivouac was in the process of being set up as it had just moved from it’s previous location, Yanbu, shortly beforehand.
Defender Rally Team
The three Defender teams had just come through, so I missed them in action, but Stage 3 the next day is another story! I see them with full-on focus as they lead the Dakar Rally’s new Stock Class. However, I had the chance to see several teams race by on their way to Stage 2’s finish. I saw many side-by-sides in the SSV class, including a duo from the Can-Am factory group. Additionally, I saw motos, MAN trucks, and many other types. Be still, my heart, I’m in heaven.
Stay tuned to our blog site for much more of my on-the-ground rally recap coverage. I finish up checking out Stage 2’s action and head back to Defender Rally Team’s quarters to meet with key point people and learn about their new D7X-R rally raid rigs. That’s next!
If you missed any of the action while I was in Saudi Arabia, check out Crankshaft Culture and my saved Instagram stories highlights bubbles. I documented every step of my journey and then some.
Several feature articles, podcast shows, and even radio have been publishing over the last few weeks and months as well! Most showcase my original photographs. Here is my feature story from OVR Magazine, a high-quality print and online publication Andy and I are Feature Editors for.
Photos and video by Mercedes Lilienthal
Mercedes Lilienthal is an award-winning journalist, photographer, and content creator who specializes in vehicular adventure travel, the automotive industry, and inspiring people within it. Mercedes, a dual citizen of the United States and Germany, loves to document her travels. Her work includes journalism and photography for a wide array of publications in multiple countries, including The New York Times, Forbes, Car and Driver, and many more.
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