Defender Rally completes first test with D7X-R

Defender Rally, the new Dakar and rally raid program from JLR, has completed its first test with its Defender Dakar D7X-R in the Sahara Desert.

Following initial tests with early prototypes, this was the first time the competition-spec car had been put through its paces. The test took place in Erfoud, Morocco, with the team covering similar mileage to what it can expect to do on the Dakar Rally next year.

The test started with shorter loops over dunes before progressing to routes several hundred miles long across wadis and rugged plains, bumps and rocks, and faster sand tracks. All three drivers from the Defender Rally team, Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price and Rokas Baciuška were in action at the test.

“It’s been a fantastic week of testing with the Defender Rally team in the first competition-spec Defender Dakar D7X-R,” said 14-time Dakar Rally winner Peterhansel. “Coming to places like Erfoud in Morocco – where we can push ourselves and the D7X-R really hard over long distances – is critically important for us as the Dakar Rally is over 8,000km with around 5,000km of timed stages on similar types of extreme terrain.”

The test was also attended by Ian James, his first outing as team principal for Defender Rally, part of his role as managing director of JLR Motorsport – a role which was announced last week which also encompasses the position of team principal for the Jaguar TCS Racing Formula E team.

“It’s an honor to be leading the Defender Rally team as we enter the almighty world of rally-raid competition in 2026, the first of a three-year program,” he said. “With a world-class driver line-up and team in place, and the first competition-spec Defender Dakar D7X-R now showing its capability in the desert, I’m looking forward to working through the rest of the extensive preparations ahead of Dakar in January. 

“We’ve still much work to do, but we’re all determined to make 2026 a memorable year in World Rally Raid for the Defender brand.”

The D7X-R will compete in the new 'stock' category for production-based cars, and utilizes the same aluminum body architecture as the production car, along with its transmission and driveline layout, as well as its 4.4-liter V8 engine.

“We made the decision to enter the World Rally-Raid Championship as it’s the ultimate stage to showcase Defender’s renowned capability and durability,” said Mark Cameron, managing director of Defender. “The new Defender OCTA has set a high bar in terms of tough luxury and seeing it transform into an unstoppable Dakar contender is remarkable. 

“Now, with just three months to go until we will take the start ramp in Yanbu, I am proud of how this team is taking shape. 
“We have a stellar line-up of drivers and co-drivers and a fantastic strategic and operational staff in place all now led by Ian James as Team Principal. With the first of the competition Defender Dakar D7X-Rs completing this test everything is on track. I can’t wait to see us taking to the dunes at Dakar.”