Something about a Land Rover that has been prepared for competition and is wearing a nice livery makes me smile all over. It all began with witnessing a Camel Trophy-winning Discovery or Defender cross a river, climb a dune, or be winched through an unbelievable amount of mud. We now have a new potential off-road adventure icon. The Defender Dakar D7X-R is a charming little devil.
In 2026, Land Rover hopes to make a big impression at the World Rally-Raid Championship. The Dakar Rally, the year’s first major event, will mark the competition debut of three Defenders.
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Introducing Defender Dakar D7X‑R
The competition model includes a number of modifications by Defender Rally intended for the intense challenge presented by the Dakar and subsequent W2RC rounds, while the Stock category regulations limit changes to essential components of Defender OCTA.
The Defender Dakar D7X-R has the same bodyshell as the Defender 110, but it has a custom 550-liter fuel tank built into the back, ready for the long off-road stages, the longest of which exceeded 800 kilometers at last year’s event. The crew is protected by a roll cage that meets competition specifications.
To cope with the demands of the desert, the Defender Dakar D7X‑R features a 35‑inch tyre package along with 60mm track width increase and raised ride height to improve ground clearance.
Defender Dakar D7X‑R Suspension
The suspension still uses the same kinematic principle as the production Defender OCTA, but it has been improved with a performance damper system that includes parallel twin dampers at the back and a single coil-over front. This system was created in partnership with BILSTEIN, a new Official Shock Absorber Partner. The damper system, which was created and tested at Defender Rally tests, enhances performance under the most severe circumstances and manages the additional weight of the 550-liter fuel tank at full capacity. The collaboration expands on a current partnership with Defender, where BILSTEIN dampers are also installed in production vehicles. Castrol and suppliers Shackleton and Alpinestars are among the world-class Defender Rally partners already in the company’s portfolio.
Power and Engine
While OCTA’s production V8 engine is mechanically unchanged (though an air‑intake restrictor will limit power in accordance with FIA Stock category regulations**), the cooling package has been upgraded to handle the extreme temperatures experienced in the desert. Cooling has been improved by increasing the frontal area and optimising airflow through the grille, where a single large radiator replaces the trio of radiators found in production vehicles. Airflow through the radiator is supported by four 12V fans which support low‑speed cooling. Revisions to the bonnet further aid cooling, while a particle filter has been added to prevent sand from entering the air intakes. Light‑pod accessories and cabin air intakes have also been added to the roof
Defender Dakar D7X‑R Features
The eight-speed automatic gearbox of the Defender Dakar D7X-R is identical to that of the production OCTA, but it has a lower final drive ratio to maximize torque at low speed and accommodate the typical rally-raid conditions. The Defender Dakar D7X-R also has a custom rally-specification brake system with vented discs, six-piston front calipers, and four-piston rear calipers.
With custom in-house race-ready calibrations, the D7X-R’s electronics are controlled by a single motorsport control unit to maximize robustness in the demanding rally conditions. A new ‘Flight Mode’ has also been developed by the Defender Rally team to help cope with the many jumps experienced in the desert dunes.
Final Verdict
In order to overcome the dunes, endure the heat, and race against the clock, Defender must drive into the unknown. Although we are aware that Dakar presents one of the most difficult obstacles in motorsport, that is precisely the reason we are competing. The team is prepared for the journey ahead after a rigorous testing program, and the Defender Dakar D7X-R has been built to handle it. We’ll give it our all with top-notch partners and some of the world’s top rally-raid drivers. Making our competitive debut in the W2RC makes me extremely proud and excited, and I’m looking forward to what the season will bring.