The British company presented the definitive livery of the prototype, based on the Defender Octa road version, with which three crews will take part in the Dakar and the 2026 rally raid world championship. Biturbo V8 engine and equipment for a marathon in the desert. Also competing is Stéphane Peterhansel, winner of 14 editions of the race
There will also be three Defender Dakar D7X–R at the start of the 48th edition of the Dakarscheduled from 3 al January 17, 2026 in Saudi Arabia. Just over a month from now start of the most famous rally raid in the world, starting from Yanbu, Land Rover has unveiled the final version of the prototype (assembled inside the brand’s factory in Nitra, Slovakia) which will take part in the five rounds of the next rally raid world championship (W2RC) in the category Stock. Under the dress of this purely sporty variant there is the architecture of a Defender Octa driven by an engine Twin-turbo V8 from 4.4 litres (on 1 January 2026, on the occasion of the car’s homologation, the maximum power will also be made known which, for regulatory reasons, will be lower than the 635 HP of the model currently in production) powered by an advanced sustainable fuel, as required by the regulations of the International Automobile Federation.
Defender Dakar D7X-R: the equipment
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The bodywork of Defender Dakar D7X–R it is clearly inspired (especially in its shapes) by the road version Octa. Compared to the latter, the roadway has increased by 60 mmas well as the approach and departure angles. Setting aside purely stylistic issues, the extended wheel arches are even more prominent than those admired on the production model, so that the three selected crews can face the challenges of the desert with a vehicle suitable for even the most complicated situations. To do this, the British company has decided to equip this prototype with a package of tyres 35 incheswhile the body features reduced door panels and raised sills to accommodate extended protection. Furthermore, a light bar and air vents for the cabin have been added to the roof.
Inside the passenger compartment stands out a navigation system regulated by the FIA for rally raids. The riders fielded by the British company in the five rounds of the world series will also be able to count on a display head–upwhich provides them with real-time speed and direction data, along with a dashboard specific to motorsport competitions. There are also gods on board seats with six-point belts regulated by the International Automobile Federation, adaptable and adjustable by each individual crew member to ensure maximum comfort even in the most complicated situations, and a tool kit (with compressed air and three spare wheels housed in place of the rear seats and fixed to the new roll-bar) and spare parts. On average it is expected to carry eight liters of water, three spare wheels and a pair of integrated hydraulic jacks are capable of lifting both sides of the vehicle.
defender, the crews for the dakar
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After carrying out an intense test session in Morocco, the British company is ready to debut at Dakar with a team made up of decidedly expert mechanics and engineers. The new team principal will lead them, Ian Jameswho took over the baton from James Barclay, who moved to McLaren to manage the program in FIA World Endurance Championship. “The Defender will travel into the unknown: it will have to overcome the dunes, manage the heat and race against the clock,” he said. “We know that the Dakar represents one of the toughest challenges in motorsport, but that is precisely why we are participating. After an intense testing programme, the team is ready for the adventure ahead and the Defender Dakar D7X‑R was built to take it on. With world-class partners and some of the best rally-raid drivers on the planet, we will give the I’m incredibly proud and excited to debut in the W2RC and can’t wait to see what the season brings.
Three crews have been chosen for this new adventure among the desert dunes of Saudi Arabia (and beyond). The prominent name of the triptych is that of Stephane Peterhansel, Monsieur Dakar with his 14 overall successes distributed between motorcycles (6 victories) and cars (8, the last one dating back to 2021). With him the navigator Mika Metge. He will be the one to bring the right experience to a relatively young team, with the 25 year old Rokas Baciuškapaired with Oriol Vidaland the 33-year-old American Sara Pricenavigated by Sean Berrimanwhich aim to amaze.
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