I got a special insider’s look at the Defender Rally Team bivouac area at the 2026 Dakar Rally, after I arrived in Saudi Arabia. Support semis carried driver gear, tires, differentials, and more.
I also got a sneak peek at where the trio of teams and support staff sleep. There’s even a quick cameo from #502 co-driver and Stock class champion Oriol Vidol!
Defender Rally Team’s Clean Room and Bolts
After I saw the main sections of the Defender area, I dove a bit deeper into semis that carry their tools, bolts, clean rooms, and more. One truck carried an endless array of BFGoodrich race rubber. Another housed team storage lockers, with duplicates of already-scrutineered clothing, supplies, and other necessities. One of the most impressive semis was one that included clean rooms. These areas were specific zones where sensitive mechanical work could be done in a clean and dust-free environment.
If I could’ve had just a small section of one of the semis at home to maintain our fleet of personal 4x4s, I’d be a happy camper.
Stay tuned to us at Crankshaft Culture for continuing video recaps of my on-the-ground Dakar Rally and Defender Rally Team coverage. Stage 3 rally highlights will be coming up, including teams taking off at the start line.
Videos 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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