An Exol Lubricants-sponsored racing team comprised of all-female members has completed the 2026 Dakar Rally.

Gazelles Racing Team, led by Marcella Kirk and Helen Tait-Wright, were the first all-female team to complete the Dakar Classic – and they did it in style in their highly-modified 1988 Land Rover Defender 110, which the team has nicknamed ‘Purdey’.

Exol Lubricants supported the efforts of Gazelles Offroad Team by providing high-grade engine and transfer box oils, manufactured to withstand the gruelling two-week racing event.

This year, the Dakar Classic entered its sixth year, overseeing hundreds of vehicles setting off from the starting line in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.

In preparation for the event, Gazelles Offroad Team also competed in Morocco’s Santana trophy last year, as well as earning a fifth-place finish in the Rallye des Dames de Coeur, with both Kirk and Tait-Wright racing across the Burgundy region of France.

The team also completed a Dakar Classic training course in Morocco in the weeks prior to the event.

Steve Dunn, Sales and Marketing Director at Exol Lubricants, commented: “Exol is delighted with the progress Gazelles Offroad Team has made, as the team crossed the finish line in the 2026 Dakar Classic.”

“As proud supporters of the racing duo, we’ve seen the effort and the preparation both Marcella and Helen have put into this achievement. Exol has offered its services to help the team on their way, providing lubricants that have ensured a reliable drive throughout the event.”

The team has championed Wonder Foundation throughout its Dakar Classic journey, supporting the women-led charity dedicated to transforming the lives of women, girls and their communities worldwide through essential education opportunities, providing widespread inspiration

For the latest updates from Gazelle Offroad Team, visit https://www.facebook.com/gazellesoffroadteam/

For more information on Exol Lubricants, visit: https://www.exol-lubricants.com/