The Defender shows exactly what its ambitions will be at the Dakar Rally.
Even before last year’s Dakar Rally, Defender indicated that it would enter the race as a participant and put its respected, valued and historic off-road brand name to the test by entering its vehicles in the massive and legendary challenge in 2026. That race is now just over a month away, and following the announcement of the Defender D7X-R rally race car and the announcement that it would be based on the road-going performance flagship Defender OCTA, a rigorous round of testing ensured it was ready for action and now the racing machine is shown in its competition livery just before the start of the race.
In addition to taking part in the 2026 Dakar Rally with three vehicles, the Defender is also taking part in the W2RC with two vehicles this year, and the D7X-R, which is closely derived from the Defender OCTA, will compete in the “Stock” category of the championship, intended for vehicles closely related to production models. The livery features a “Geopalette” design that reflects the desert environment of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, with sand, stone and earth tones accented by hints of aqua, referencing the rare and precious water in the desert.
The powerful 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine that powers the Defender OCTA also powers the D7X-R, and the vehicle also features the same body architecture, transmission and drivetrain layout as the Defender OCTA. The Dakar Rally, powered by sustainable fuel, will see the D7X-R complete around 5,000 kilometers of timed stages, with incredibly talented drivers behind the wheels of the three rally cars: Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge; Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal; and Sara Price with Sean Berriman, all with Ian James at the helm as team principal.
As the team faces one of the most demanding races in all of motorsport, Defender is introducing its new D7X-R rally car in race livery, just a month before its incredibly massive and ambitious challenge in Saudi Arabia.
Image source: JLR
