Defender kicks off debut in Dakar Rally as 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship begins
Defender kicks off debut in Dakar Rally as 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship begins
Defender Rally kicked off its competitive debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally on 03 January, the first round of the 2026 World-Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
The all-new Defender Dakar D7X-R takes on the world’s most challenging rally-raid with a world-class driver and co-driver line-up including Dakar-legend Stéphane Peterhansel alongside Mika Metge; determined Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal; and trailblazing Sara Price with Sean Berriman.
On the eve of Dakar beginning, Defender Rally also announced two new partners: YETI and Bell & Ross. Defender Rally is also bringing the Defender Dakar D7X-R to Fortnite and Rocket League.
From 03-17 January, and with only one rest day, the drivers will face almost 5,000km of timed stages over extreme terrain in the Defender Dakar D7X-R which, derived from the award-winning Defender OCTA, is built to compete in the ‘Stock’ category of the W2RC – the perfect platform to showcase Defender’s capability.
The Defender Dakar D7X-R features modifications including a wider track, increased ride height, new suspension and enhanced cooling to handle the extreme terrain and weather but, in adherence to the strict ‘Stock’ category regulations, is closely based on the production Defender OCTA. The Defender Dakar DX7-R bodies are built on the production Defender assembly line at JLR’s state-of-the-art facility in Nitra, Slovakia, and adopts the same robust D7x body architecture, transmission and driveline layout as the Defender OCTA, the most capable Defender ever made. It is also powered by the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine which, mechanically unchanged, runs on an advanced sustainable fuel.
Ian James, Team Principal of Defender Rally, said:
“Defender is the perfect competitor for Dakar and the wider World-Rally Raid Championship, and the D7X-R has performed extremely well in testing. Even so, while our target is clearly for all three drivers to be competitive here, just completing Dakar is a huge achievement – so we don’t underestimate the challenge of the adventure that lays ahead. But, with Defender Dakar D7X-R and our incredible driver line-up, and supported by Official Partners and suppliers, we are ready!”
Joining existing official partners Castrol and Bilstein, and suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars, Official Coolers, Bags and Drinkware Partner YETI will equip and enable the Defender Rally team with their extensive range of premium outdoor gear. YETI and Defender Rally will also collaborate on new innovations specific to the challenges of the Dakar Rally and bringing the stories of the team to life.
In another exciting opportunity, Official Timing Partner Bell & Ross will equip the Defender Rally team with precision timepieces to enable success at the Dakar Rally and World Rally-Raid Championship. This partnership brings together Bell & Ross and Defender’s combined spirit of endurance, performance and adventure to the world’s toughest rally stages.
Finally, the Defender Dakar D7X-R will be coming to Fortnite and Rocket League Shops, transporting the team’s real-world adventure into the virtual world, enabling Defender Rally to extend its Dakar story into digital spaces.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said:
“We are thrilled to have three new partners on board that match and amplify Defender’s core values. YETI and Bell & Ross embody our built to last positioning, with products that are engineered with durability at the core. Together we share a mission mindset, advocating for people who outlast and defy the odds, and of course, Epic Games resonates with our brand story-telling approach, creating universes and cultural moments that bring Defender ever more into popular culture. With this support, we’re fully set to take on the adventure that is Dakar.”
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