Defender Rally has officially revealed the Defender Dakar D7X-R, the marque’s first competition-spec rally-raid machine, ahead of its highly anticipated debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally and full-season campaign in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
A New Era: The Defender Dakar D7X-R
The Defender Dakar D7X-R is derived directly from the production Defender OCTA, retaining its robust D7x body architecture, transmission and driveline layout, as well as the OCTA’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which will run on FIA-compliant sustainable fuel.
Built for the new-for-2026 FIA Stock category, the D7X-R showcases Defender’s capability with minimal permitted changes to its production origins.
Even within these restrictions, the rally-raid model receives a comprehensive suite of modifications for the punishment of Dakar:
– Wider track and increased ride height
– Revised suspension with new performance dampers developed with BILSTEIN, Defender Rally’s Official Shock Absorber Partner
– Enhanced cooling with a single enlarged radiator, bonnet revisions and sand-filtering systems
– Modified bodywork with improved approach/departure angles and extended under-floor protection
– Bespoke 550-litre integrated fuel tank
– 35-inch tyre package
– Updated electronics with a motorsport control unit and bespoke calibrations, including a dedicated Flight Mode for mid-air stability during dune jumps
Inside, the D7X-R features FIA-compliant seating, a rally-raid navigation suite, a configurable motorsport dashboard and extensive onboard tools, spares and equipment for long desert stages.
Striking New ‘Geopalette’ Livery
The Defender Dakar D7X-R debuts in an all-new ‘Geopalette’ livery, blending sand, stone and earth tones with hints of aqua inspired by the rare desert waters of the Dakar regions. The design gives the D7X-R a raw, elemental presence befitting the world’s toughest rally-raid.
Driver Line-Up and Team Structure
Defender Rally will field three crews for its Dakar and W2RC debut campaign:
Stéphane Peterhansel / Mika Metge
Rokas Baciuška / Oriol Vidal
Sara Price / Sean Berriman
The programme is led by newly appointed Team Principal Ian James, supported by a dedicated team of engineers and mechanics.
Designed for the World’s Most Extreme Rally
All Defender Dakar D7X-R bodies originate from the production line in Nitra, Slovakia, maintaining structural authenticity as required by FIA Stock rules. The vehicle’s architecture and silhouette stay true to the production Defender OCTA, while performance-critical upgrades equip it for over 5,000km of competitive stages and more than 80 hours of timed driving at Dakar.
Defender Rally has already completed over 6,000km of desert testing with prototypes and now turns its attention to its first competitive outing.
First Stop: Dakar 2026
The Defender Dakar D7X-R will make its global competition debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, beginning 3 January 2026, marking Defender’s entry into rally-raid at the highest level.
