Defender Rally Crowned W2RC Stock Class Champions with BILSTEIN Suspension!

A championship-winning debut season! Defender Rally has secured the drivers’, co-drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles in the Stock class of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), with BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK suspension technology playing a key role in the team's success.

The season concluded in spectacular fashion at the Rallye du Maroc, where the Defender D7X-R once again proved its capabilities across some of the world's most demanding off-road terrain. Equipped with BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK shock absorbers, the team delivered another outstanding performance to round off a remarkable first season.

A Championship-Deciding Finale at Rallye du Maroc

The Rallye du Maroc provided a fitting conclusion to Defender Rally's debut W2RC campaign. With 2,458 kilometres of challenging rally stages, competitors faced everything from rocky tracks and high-speed sandy sections to the unforgiving dunes of the Sahara Desert.

These extreme conditions pushed vehicles, drivers and components to their limits, making suspension performance essential for maintaining control, stability and consistency throughout the event.

For Defender Rally, the final round was another opportunity to demonstrate the strength of the Defender D7X-R and its advanced BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK suspension technology.

And the results certainly delivered.

BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK Technology Powers Another Victory

The Rallye du Maroc saw another impressive performance from the Defender Rally team, with Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge taking first place in the Stock class, completing the event in a total time of 20 hours, 53 minutes and 52 seconds.

Their Defender D7X-R, equipped with BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK off-road shock absorbers, proved more than capable of tackling the demanding Moroccan terrain.

It was also a strong result for the team's other crews:

• 1st Place: Stéphane Peterhansel / Mika Metge

• 3rd Place: Rokas Baciuška / Oriol Vidal

• 4th Place: Sara Price / Sean Berriman

All three crews competed in the Defender D7X-R, showcasing the consistency and reliability of the team's vehicles across the challenging stages.

For Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, their third-place finish was particularly significant, securing the overall W2RC Stock class drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship titles.

"It's amazing to be Stock Champions. Thanks to all the team who support us all season," said Baciuška following the championship victory.

Defender Rally Secures Drivers’, Co-Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Titles

The success in Morocco capped off an extraordinary debut season for Defender Rally.

With 507 championship points, the team also secured the W2RC Stock class manufacturers’ title, completing a clean sweep of the major championship honours.

Throughout the season, Defender Rally demonstrated exceptional consistency, taking victories at some of the world's most prestigious rally-raid events, including:

• Dakar Rally – One of the toughest and most iconic off-road motorsport events in the world.

• bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal – A demanding test of speed, endurance and vehicle performance.

• Desafío Ruta 40, Argentina – Challenging South American terrain that pushes competitors and machinery to their limits.

• Rallye du Maroc – A spectacular season finale across Morocco's rocky landscapes and Sahara dunes.

These victories demonstrated not only the capabilities of the Defender D7X-R, but also the importance of dependable, high-performance suspension technology in extreme motorsport environments.

The Defender D7X-R and BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK Suspension

At the heart of Defender Rally's success is the Defender D7X-R, a competition vehicle based on the formidable Defender OCTA.

Designed to compete in the W2RC Stock class, the D7X-R combines the inherent off-road capabilities of the Defender platform with motorsport-focused engineering and development.

A crucial part of that package is the BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK off-road shock absorber technology.

In rally-raid competition, suspension systems must cope with an enormous variety of surfaces and conditions. From repeated high-speed impacts to rocky climbs and unpredictable desert terrain, maintaining vehicle control is essential.

BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK technology is developed to deliver dependable damping performance in these demanding environments, helping the vehicle maintain stability and traction when conditions become particularly challenging.

The championship-winning performance of the Defender D7X-R highlights the importance of precision suspension engineering in achieving consistent results over thousands of kilometres.

Motorsport-Proven Engineering from BILSTEIN

For decades, BILSTEIN has been recognised for its commitment to suspension performance, precision engineering and reliability.

From road-going vehicles to some of the world's most demanding motorsport competitions, the brand continues to develop suspension technology designed to deliver performance when it matters most.

Its partnership with Defender Rally demonstrates this philosophy perfectly.

Competing in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship provides an extreme testing environment, where components are subjected to conditions far beyond those typically encountered on public roads.

The success of BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK technology throughout the season reinforces the brand's expertise in developing suspension solutions capable of delivering reliable performance under sustained pressure.

While competition-specific BLACK HAWK dampers differ from BILSTEIN's road-going suspension products, the underlying commitment to quality, durability and precise damping control remains central to the brand.

A Remarkable First Season for Defender Rally and BILSTEIN

Winning a world championship is an incredible achievement. Doing so during a team's debut season makes the accomplishment even more impressive.

For Defender Rally and suspension partner BILSTEIN, securing the W2RC Stock class drivers’, co-drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles represents the successful conclusion of a campaign defined by technical excellence, consistent development and outstanding performance.

From the legendary Dakar Rally to the final stages of the Rallye du Maroc, the Defender D7X-R and BILSTEIN BLACK HAWK suspension technology have demonstrated their ability to perform at the highest level of rally-raid competition.

Precision. Performance. Reliability.

Three qualities that have defined BILSTEIN for decades, and three qualities that have helped deliver a championship-winning season.

Discover BILSTEIN Suspension for Your Vehicle

BILSTEIN's motorsport heritage is built on decades of suspension development, with engineering expertise extending across a wide range of road and performance applications.

Whether you're looking to restore your vehicle's original ride quality, improve handling or upgrade to a more performance-focused suspension setup, BILSTEIN offers solutions to suit a variety of driving requirements.

From BILSTEIN B4 OE replacement shock absorbers and B6 performance dampers to B8 shortened dampers and BILSTEIN EVO coilover systems, discover the range of suspension upgrades available for your vehicle.

Explore the BILSTEIN range at BILSTEIN Suspension Store.