‘Sara Price: Chasing Dakar’ Captures The Resilience Behind One Of Motorsport’s Toughest Events
- Damian Hall
- May 14
- 4 min read
“My hope is that viewers see not only the toughness of the Dakar Rally, but the resilience of the people behind it, and maybe even feel inspired to chase something they love with the same determination.” – Sara Price
Even if you follow Dakar Rally closely, there is no way you truly know how it unfolded behind the scenes for Defender Rally until you watch Sara Price: Chasing Dakar.
That became immediately clear during an exclusive screening hosted by Warner Bros. Discovery and Jaguar Land Rover ahead of the release of the new three-part original docuseries chronicling Defender Rally’s 2026 Dakar campaign. What begins as a motorsport documentary quickly becomes something far more personal, exposing the pressure, sacrifice, setbacks and personalities behind one of the toughest events in world motorsport.
And that is exactly what makes the series work.
The documentary follows Sara Price, one of the most recognisable names in off-road racing, as she attempts to tackle her third Dakar Rally, this time as part of Defender Rally’s ambitious debut in the Stock class. Price, who built her reputation through motocross before transitioning to four-wheel competition, becomes the emotional core of the series alongside teammates Stéphane Peterhansel and Rokas Baciuška.
The level of access granted throughout the series keeps viewers fully invested, even if they already know the result. Cameras follow the Defender Rally team through the emotional highs, crushing setbacks and relentless uncertainty that define Dakar. It becomes less about watching a race and more about understanding what it truly takes to survive one.
Warner Bros. Discovery describes the series as offering “unprecedented behind-the-scenes access at the toughest test in off-road motorsport,” and that description feels accurate after watching the opening episodes.
Episode one, Nothing is Given, immediately establishes the tone.
The series details Price’s rise from motocross prodigy to Dakar contender, revealing the sacrifices made along the way. According to the official synopsis, Price sold her home, drained her savings and risked her financial security in pursuit of Dakar. What should have marked a breakthrough moment with Defender Rally quickly turns into crisis after she becomes stranded just 100km into the 8,000km event.
Episode two, Won’t Back Down, shifts further into the emotional and psychological demands of the rally. Repairs, penalties and marathon stages begin taking their toll as Dakar’s unforgiving nature reveals itself. Yet the series consistently keeps its focus on resilience, documenting Price’s determination to continue chasing her goal of becoming the first American woman to win Dakar.
By episode three, A Race of Two Halves, the emotional investment becomes impossible to ignore. With a podium still within reach, the series captures both the danger and unpredictability of Dakar’s dunes while also reflecting on the journey that shaped Price long before the rally itself.
What makes the documentary particularly effective is that it introduces Dakar to audiences who may never have previously connected with rally raid racing.
You cannot help but feel the rush of the competition while also becoming attached to the personalities inside Defender Rally. The chemistry within the team, the pressure placed on drivers and crew members, and the emotional weight of the event itself all combine to create something that feels far bigger than motorsport.
In many ways, that may become the series’ greatest achievement.
Rather than simply documenting Dakar, it humanises it.
Sara Price herself acknowledged the emotional weight of sharing her story publicly.
“Being part of this documentary has given me the chance to reflect on my journey to Defender Rally and my third Dakar entry,” she said. “Motorsport has shaped my life in ways I’m still discovering, with the highs, the lows, the people who believed in me, and the lessons that I learnt the hard way.”
She added: “My hope is that viewers see not only the toughness of the Dakar Rally, but the resilience of the people behind it, and maybe even feel inspired to chase something they love with the same determination.”
Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe EVP Scott Young believes the human story behind the race is what makes the series compelling.
“The Dakar Rally is known for its brutal and exhilarating races across some of the planet’s most inhospitable environments, pushing teams and drivers to the absolute limit,” Young said. “As a global motorsport broadcaster committed to shining a light on these stories, we’re excited to go beyond the race action.”
Defender Rally Team Principal Ian James echoed those sentiments, describing the documentary as “a powerful reflection of the dedication, resilience and unwavering determination shown by both our drivers and the entire team.”
The series arrives at a time when Dakar continues to expand its global reach beyond traditional rally audiences. The 2026 edition saw 317 teams tackle an 8,000km route across Saudi Arabia, with only 242 competitors reaching the finish line after 14 gruelling days of racing.
Yet despite the scale and danger associated with Dakar, Sara Price: Chasing Dakar succeeds because it never loses sight of the human side of the competition.
It is raw, emotional and surprisingly immersive.
More importantly, it feels capable of introducing an entirely new audience to Dakar Rally.
Sara Price: Chasing Dakar premieres from 15 May on TNT Sports and HBO Max in the UK and Ireland, with wider international releases across Warner Bros. Discovery platforms to follow.
Full availability:
· Europe and Asia-Pacific: Eurosport (simulcast on HBO Max in Europe) from 8 June
o Episode one: 21.30 CEST, 8 June, Eurosport 1 and HBO Max
o Episode two: 21.30 CEST, 9 June, Eurosport 1 and HBO Max
o Episode three: 20.15 CEST, 10 June, Eurosport 1 and HBO Max
· UK and Ireland: TNT Sports (simulcast on HBO Max) from 15 May
o Episode one: 19.30 BST, 15 May, TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max
o Episode two: 21.45 BST, 16 May, TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max
o Episode three: 21.30 BST, 17 May TNT Sports 2 and HBO Max
· USA: Discovery Channel (simulcast on discovery+) from 4 June
· Latin America: available on WBD channels from 12 June
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