- Land Rover has taken the wraps of its Defender Dakar D7X-R, dressed in competition livery
- It will compete in the new ‘Stock’ category, designed to showcase production-based vehicles with minimal modifications
- The Defender Dakar D7X-R has the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine as the Defender OCTA
- It will be driven by Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price, and Rokas Baciuška at the Dakar Rally on the 3rd of January, 2026
Land Rover is set to make its Dakar Rally debut at the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) on the 3rd of January, 2026. The British marque will be inaugurating the Defender Dakar D7X-R at the world’s most extreme rally-raid, entering under the newly formed ‘Stock’ category.
The Dakar Rally is widely considered one of the toughest races on earth — proving the ideal opportunity for Land Rover to show off the Defender’s off-road capabilities. The Defender Dakar D7X-R is based on the Defender OCTA and shares its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, D7x body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout.
Each Defender Dakar D7X-R drives off the assembly line at the marque’s production facility in Nitra, Slovakia, in adherence to FIA regulations that mandate that the bodyshell of the competition car must be the same as its production origins. As an entrant in the Stock category, there are strict regulations stipulating the elements which must remain unchanged from the production model (in this case, the Defender OCTA).
Among the allowed modifications made are increased track width and height to improve ground clearance, performance damping on the suspension, lower drive ratio to maximise torque at low speeds, a bespoke rally-specification brake system, and a bonkers 550-litre fuel tank has been built into the rear to accommodate the lengthy off-road stretches. While the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine remains mechanically unchanged, it’s been fitted with an air-intake restrictor to limit power to comply with FIA Stock regulations and has an upgraded cooling package to deal with desert temperatures.
Perhaps the coolest mod is the addition of a ‘Flight Mode’, designed to aid the car in coping with the numerous sand dune jumps. According to Land Rover, “Flight Mode automatically adjusts torque delivery from the engine to the wheels whenever the D7X-R is airborne to ensure a smooth landing and protect the driveline.”
Inside, there’s a FIA-regulated navigation system and head-up display, as well as a driver-configurable motorsport dashboard. The six-buckle seats are tailored to each driver, while the rear seats have been forgone in favour of three spare wheels.
The car will compete in livery inspired by the raw, elemental tones and textures of the desert. The ‘Geopalette’ design takes its cues from the arid landscapes that characterise the Dakar, pairing sand, stone, and earth tones with a hint of aqua, reflecting the rare desert waters.
The Defender Dakar D7X-R has already undergone over 6000km of testing by the Defender Rally team in prototype form ahead of its Dakar Rally debut.
“Defender is driving into the unknown — to overcome the dunes, handle the heat and race flat-out against the clock,” team principal Ian James said in a statement. “We know Dakar represents one of the toughest challenges in motorsport — but that’s exactly why we are entering. Following an intense testing programme, the team are ready for the adventure ahead and the Defender Dakar D7X – R has been built to take it on. With world-class partners and some of the best rally-raid drivers on the planet, we’ll give it our all. I’m incredibly proud and excited to make our competitive debut in the W2RC and I look forward to what the season will bring.”
Words by Henry Blake
