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Defender has completed initial prototype testing of its Defender Dakar D7X-R rally-raid competitor in Morocco’s Sahara Desert, marking a significant milestone in the British adventure brand’s preparation for its works debut at the 2026 Dakar Rally. The company has also announced its first two drivers: 14-time Dakar Rally winner Stéphane Peterhansel of France and Lithuanian talent Rokas Baciuska.
The prototype, which will compete in the ‘Stock’ category for production-based cars, shares the same D7x aluminum body architecture, transmission and driveline layout as production Defenders. Powered by a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, the vehicle underwent baseline testing for reliability, durability and capability in desert conditions similar to those expected at the Dakar Rally.
“Completing our first official test in the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype is a huge milestone,” said James Barclay, Managing Director of JLR Motorsport. “The team are doing phenomenal work as we prepare for the world’s most challenging off-road race in just eight months’ time.”
Peterhansel, 59, widely regarded as the most successful Dakar Rally competitor ever with 35 participations and 14 victories across motorcycle and car categories, completed testing duties in the Sahara. He will race for Defender in all rounds of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
“I am delighted to begin a new chapter with Defender,” said Peterhansel. “The World Rally-Raid Championship is the pinnacle of rallying and off-road competition, whilst Defender is an iconic and capable 4×4, so for me it’s the perfect match.”
Joining Peterhansel is 25-year-old Baciuška, the first driver in FIA history to win world champion titles in two different categories. Baciuška made his Dakar Rally debut in 2022, finishing third in the T4 category before winning the 2022 W2RC championship in that same class.
Defender plans to enter three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs in the Stock category at the 2026 Dakar Rally, with a two-car entry contesting the remaining rounds of the W2RC. The third driver and all navigators will be announced later this year.
The 2026 edition of the W2RC will implement new regulations aimed at making the Stock category more competitive, allowing increased performance benefits for production-based vehicles. This regulatory change comes as organizers respond to the growing capacity and popularity of high-performance 4x4s and SUVs in rally-raid competitions.
The Dakar Rally, first held in 1979 as the Paris-Dakar Rally, is considered one of motorsport’s most grueling endurance events. Originally run from Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal, the rally moved to South America in 2009 due to security concerns and has been held in Saudi Arabia since 2020. The multi-stage event typically covers thousands of kilometers across challenging terrain including sand dunes, rocks, and mountains.
Production of Defender’s competition cars has already begun, with vehicle bodies coming from JLR’s Nitra production plant in Slovakia. The team plans extensive testing before a full team launch later this year ahead of the 2026 season.
This article first appeared on Autocar
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