Bell & Ross is taking part in the Defender Rally at Dakar 2026, bringing its tool watch mentality to the toughest race in the world.
It’s fitting that Bell & Ross have found their way to the Dakar Rally. The watchmaker has always built watches for people who rely on them rather than admire them from a watch case, and rally racing fits right into that space. As we begin the new year, Bell & Ross will serve as the official timing partner for the Defender Rally, competing in the World Rally Raid Championship, starting with the Dakar event. It’s less about logos on the body and more about being present where precision, endurance and concentration are non-negotiable, especially when the stages stretch endlessly through the Saudi desert and its demanding terrain.
Dakar has the ability to expose mechanical or human vulnerabilities, and that is primarily why it makes sense for Bell & Ross to get involved. Timing in rallies is functional, constant and unforgiving. For Defender Dakar D7X-R drivers, knowing exactly where they are at a given moment can influence their decisions hours later. For decades, Bell & Ross has built a reputation for readability and reliability in extreme conditions, first in aviation, later underwater and now on the track. Dakar is another chapter in this story rather than a departure from it.
The watch that heads to the dunes with Defender Rally is the BR-X3 Black Titanium, a creation aimed more at the role of an instrument than a mere accessory. Lightweight Grade 2 titanium, a COSC-certified movement and an easy-to-read dial represent ease of use over luxury. Visually, the watch’s square case and round dial reflect the Defender’s own design language: clear, purposeful and carefully constructed. In a race characterized by long days, physical exertion and mechanical stress, the partnership is more about showing up with the right tools and letting the terrain do the talking.
Source: Bell & Ross
