Berriman celebrates podium finish

SOUTH African-born Sean Berriman kept the flag flying at the Dakar Rally, finishing in second place as co-driver in the Defender Rally Stock Class in their debut at the world’s most gruelling off-road race.

- WILLEM VAN DE PUTTE

Berriman, navigating for American driver Sara Price, finished second overall in class after two relentless weeks in the Saudi Arabian desert.

Ahead of them were teammates Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal, who sealed the Stock class win, while Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel and co-driver Mika Metge rounded out Defender's effort in fourth.

When the final stage ended, Defender’s three crews had filled the top three positions on 10 of the 13 stages. Between them, the trio covered around 24000km of dunes, rocks and high-speed desert tracks, all while staying within the tight limitations of the Stock category.

For Baciuška, the win was deeply personal.