Defender Dakar D7X-R Charts Historic Class Win In 2026 Dakar Rally

The Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R charted a historic debut 1-2 win in the Stock class of the 2026 Dakar Rally event held in Saudi Arabia last week.

Remember the manic Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R rally raid machine that bowed sometime back? Well, said purpose-built rally raid machine has charted a debut class win in this year’s edition of the annual Dakar Rally event.

Based on the V8-engined Defender Octa, a total of three Defender Dakar D7X-R was fielded under the works Defender Rally banner for the 2026 Dakar Rally event that concluded late last week in Saudi Arabia. All three competed in the event’s Stock class.

Taking top honours for the Defender Rally team was the driving duo of Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal.

Taking the class win here was Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal who reportedly completed the gruelling 13-stage – spanning almost 8,000 KM – Saudi Arabian course in a total time of 58 hours, 9 minutes and 45 seconds.

Teammates Sara Price and Sean Berriman placed second in class after logging it a total time of 62 hours, 7 minutes and 45 seconds. The third Defender Dakar D7X-R piloted by Dakar legend Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge instead finished fourth in class.

The feat sees the Defender become only the second non-Japanese vehicle to win the Stock class since its inception, and it also ended a four-year winning streak charted by rivals Toyota.

The feat sees the the Defender Rally team outmatch rivals Team Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body that claimed third place through the efforts of Ronald Basso and Julein Menard who logged in a total time of 66 hours, 44 minutes and 14 seconds.

Moreover, Defender Rally also became only the second non-Japanese vehicle to take the winning spoils since the Stock class’s inaugural edition – it brought an end to a four-year victory streak charted by rivals Toyota.

The winning Defender Dakar D7X-R covered almost 8,000 KM across 13 stages in just 58 hours, 9 minutes and 45 seconds.

“For the first year for Defender, it’s amazing. Our mechanics did a great job – what they do is unbelievable, working every day until early in the morning to prepare the cars for the next stage.” says winning driver Baciuškas shortly after crossing the line.

“Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud of the entire team. Not only the fact that we’ve won Dakar in the way that we have, but the manner in which everybody’s pulled together and worked so hard throughout has been simply outstanding,” adds team principal Ian James.

Underpinning the V8-engined Defender Octa special, the Defender Dakar D7X-R was specially built to meet the Stock class regulation of both the annual Dakar Rally event and the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) series.

As noted prior, the Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R rally raid machine was built based off the road-going Defender Octa performance special that packs a BMW-supplied 4.4-litre V8 twin-turbo petrol heart.

In Dakar D7X-R form, the Defender has been transformed fully to meet the FIA-dictated Stock class regulations for both the annual Dakar Rally event and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) series.

Special modifications include a beefed chassis, added roll cage and harnesses, larger 550-litre fuel tank, 'Flight Mode', and more.

Besides keeping the stock production model’s powertrain and core body structure, notable racing additions included a roll cage, harnesses, larger 550-litre fuel tank, a 60 MM wider track plus raised ride height, 35-inch tyres, and a specially primed ‘Flight Mode’.

Ahead of its debut in the 2026 Dakar Rally event, the Defender Rally team even struck a partnership with renowned watchmakers Bell & Ross. This saw each of the team's driver and co-driver being supplied with the marque’s BR-X3 Black Titanium timepiece.