Defender, the iconic British adventure brand, is pleased to announce the arrival of two exceptional drivers to the newly formed Defender Rally team. Fourteen-time Dakar Rally winner Stéphane Peterhansel will join emerging talent Rokas Baciuška for the ultimate epic adventure. Frenchman Peterhansel recently joined the Defender Rally team in Morocco and successfully completed early test activity behind the wheel of the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype. The Defender – a legendary, unstoppable 4×4 engineered for durability and strength – will make its official competition debut at the Dakar Rally in January 2026. Three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs will take part in the new ‘Stock’ category, designed for production-based cars, while two cars will compete in the remaining rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
Stéphane Peterhansel: “The perfect match”
“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. The team is committed to the championship and has a passion to win. I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge and together I hope we can take Defender to the top step of the podium. It’s been amazing to get behind the wheel of the Defender D7X-R prototype for the first time in Morocco. Whilst it’s early days, our testing is moving in a positive direction for our preparation for our Dakar Rally debut in 2026.”
Rokas Baciuška: “An incredible brand and a historic moment”
“I’m extremely excited to make my debut in the Stock category of the Dakar Rally, made even more significant by driving for Defender,” said Baciuška. “Having the legendary Defender join the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship and Dakar Rally is an historic moment in motorsport and for the brand, and I’m looking forward to being an integral part of that story. Defender is an incredible brand synonymous with being unstoppable and embracing the impossible, which is why I am so proud to be a part of this programme. I can’t wait to begin my journey with the team and start testing the Defender D7X-R for the first time in anticipation of the 2026 Dakar Rally.“
DEFENDER DAKAR D7X-R
Specially developed for competition but based on a production model, the Defender Dakar D7X-R shares the same robust D7x aluminium body architecture, transmission and driveline layout as production Defenders. Powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and wrapped in a distinctive camouflage design, the prototype has already undergone intensive testing in the demanding dunes of the Sahara Desert to validate its reliability, durability and all-terrain performance.
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James Barclay, Managing Director, JLR Motorsport, said: “Completing our first official test in the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype is a huge milestone and kicks off a busy calendar of testing activity on our journey to Dakar. The team are doing phenomenal work as we prepare for the world’s most challenging off-road race in just eight months’ time. I’m also extremely proud and excited to announce the first two of our world-class driver line-up. The world-renowned Stéphane Peterhansel brings a remarkable amount of practical experience to the team as the most successful Dakar Rally competitor ever. His knowledge is going to be a huge asset to our programme. Rokas Baciuška is one of the most exciting and promising upcoming rally talents, boasting an impressive track record since he first entered the Dakar in 2022 – the same year he was crowned FIA World Rally-Raid Champion in the T4 class. With Stéphane and Rokas now on board and testing of the Defender Dakar D7X-R accelerating, it’s a hugely exciting time for the team as we focus on the work that lays ahead.” Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said: “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 Stéphane 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. Competing in the Dakar Rally and W2RC will be the ultimate proving ground for Defender’s capability, durability and performance and it won’t be long until our competition Defender D7X-R will be put through its paces on the world-stage.” WORLD RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIP ‘STOCK’ CATEGORY The 2026 edition of the of the W2RC will implement new regulations that are aimed at making the ‘Stock’ category significantly more competitive overall, as the FIA and Dakar organisers respond to the increasing capacity and popularity of high-performance 4x4s and SUVs. These new regulations will allow increased performance benefits, giving Defender the opportunity to showcase its extreme durability and capability through the harshest terrains. The build of Defender’s official competition cars has also started, with the bodies of the cars coming off the line at JLR’s Nitra production plant. An exhaustive test programme is planned before a full team launch later this year ahead of Dakar and the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship in 2026. |
Quelle / Source / Pictures / Bilder: A.S.O, Landrover
