Land Rover has pulled the covers off a hardcore new version of the Defender, engineered specifically to take on the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship and the famously punishing Dakar Rally. The model, officially named the Defender Dakar D7X-R, will compete in the “Stock” category and will be led by 14-time Dakar champion Stéphane Peterhansel, who takes on driving duties for the team.
Although the D7X-R is based on the already formidable Defender Octa, the rally variant has been pushed even further within the limits allowed by competition regulations. The body structure has been reinforced, cooling has been improved to cope with the extreme desert heat, and additional underbody protection has been fitted to cope with continuous impact and rough terrain.
The exterior leaves no doubt about its purpose. The car wears pronounced fender extensions, heavily cut bumpers and a vented bonnet, along with a larger air intake and twin snorkels designed for deep sand and dust. A full LED light bar on the roof is fitted for night stages, and the usual tailgate-mounted spare wheel has been deleted to shave weight. It also adopts a striking “Geopalette” livery inspired by desert landscapes.
The biggest visual change comes from the off-road hardware. The Defender Dakar rolls on massive 35-inch tyres and features wider tracks and noticeably increased ride height. The suspension has been replaced with Bilstein performance dampers suited for repeated high-speed impacts, while the braking system now uses larger vented discs and powerful multi-piston calipers for better stopping power in long stages.
Under the bonnet is the same 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 used in the Defender Octa, but configured to run on sustainable fuel. The eight-speed gearbox stays, though it now works with a shorter final-drive ratio to deliver stronger traction in soft sand and steep climbs. A motorsport-specific control unit oversees all electronic systems, including a newly developed “Flight Mode” designed to stabilise the car when it becomes airborne over dunes. To withstand the marathon-length stages, the car carries a huge 550-litre fuel tank.
The cabin has been completely reworked for competition. All comfort elements have been removed, replaced with a full roll cage, racing seats, carbon-fibre panels and additional displays for navigation and vehicle systems. The rear seats have made way for rally essentials, including three spare tyres, tools, air tanks, jacks and water provisions.
Production of the D7X-R takes place in Slovakia alongside the standard Defender. The rally car has already logged more than 6,000 km of demanding test mileage ahead of its first official outing in Saudi Arabia in January 2026.
Next year’s Dakar Rally will cover over 80 hours of competitive driving and more than 5,000 km of timed stages spread across two gruelling weeks. Land Rover will field three crews: Peterhansel with co-driver Mika Metge, Rokas Baciuška with Oriol Vidal, and Sara Price alongside Sean Berriman. The campaign is overseen by the team’s new principal, Ivan James, as Land Rover prepares for one of the toughest motorsport challenges in the world.
