D7X-R is Defender's 2026 Dakar Rally fighter

Defender D7X-R successfully completes first rally-raid prototype test

Earlier this year, Land Rover shared that the 635 PS Defender OCTA is set to join next year’s Dakar Rally. But instead of entering a highly-modified version, Land Rover decided to compete at the ‘Stock’ category, which is the brand’s way to show that the Defender can take on the grueling rally race straight from the showroom floor.

Now, Defender is proud to announce that they are currently testing the D7X-R prototype in the Sahara Desert in preparation for the 2026 Dakar Rally and World Rally-Raid Championship. But what is so special about the D7X-R?

Despite having a different name, the D7X-R is still based on the Defender OCTA that the automaker initially announced. In fact, Land Rover says the D7X-R is the team’s purpose-built, production-based, competition challenger, which shares the same aluminum body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout as production Defenders. This will serve as the brand’s testament to its extreme durability and strength.

The D7X-R is powered by a 4.4L twin-turbo V8, although no official output figures were revealed. It’s highly likely, however, that it generates the same 635 PS and 750 Nm of torque as the Defender OCTA. Last but not least, the D7X-R is wrapped in a special camouflage livery to make it stand out from the rest.

The D7X-R was put through its paces in the Sahara Desert to verify its reliability, durability, and capability baselines in the hot and demanding sand dunes. Equally important is having drivers who are both physically and mentally fit to take on the grueling challenge of the Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raid Championship. This is why Land Rover employed the skills of 14-time Dakar Rally winner Stephane Peterhansel. The French rally driver will join the Defender Rally team alongside emerging talent Rokas Baciuska and has already successfully completed early test activities with the first D7X-R prototype. 

“It’s a fantastic feeling to be sharing these first images of the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype with the world. The team is really starting to take shape as we develop Defender to compete in the Stock category, which means the competition D7X-R will be very closely linked to the production Defender. It’s also a special moment to announce our two drivers for the W2RC in Stephane and Rokas, each of them bringing something unique to the team, and with human endurance being such a vital component of World Rally-Raid success,” said Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender.

Stephane Peterhansel is no stranger to rally racing as the 59-year old Frenchman has competed in Dakar Rally 35 times on both motorcycles and vehicles, and has secured a total of 14 Dakar victories. In 2026, Peterhansel will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the team, and will help pave the way for the Defender’s future in the sport. 

Meanwhile, 25-year old Rokas Baciuska is one of the most talented and youngest prospects within the rally world. He is the first driver in FIA history to win world championship titles in two different categories. In 2022, Baciuskamade his Dakar rally debut as the youngest Lithuanian to join the event and was able to finish third in the T4 category. He then went on to complete the 2022 W2RC with four podiums, including winning the 2022 Rally du Maroc. This allowed the 25-year old driver to secure the overall W2RC championship in the T4 class. Afterwards, Baciuska finished second in the T4 category in the 2023 Dakar Rally and third in the T3 category of the 2024 Dakar Rally - showcasing his impressive track record.

With Team Defender busy preparing for next year’s Dakar Rally and W2RC, we’ll be keeping a close as to how the D7X-R will be able to compete in the grueling race.