DAKAR 2026: THE NEW ERA FOR DEFENDER, PETERHANSEL AND BACIUŠKA

Defender joins the Dakar Rally – with legends behind the wheel

Defender, the iconic British 4x4 brand, is entering the world’s toughest motorsport arena: the Dakar Rally 2026 and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). And they’re not coming quietly. At the helm of the brand-new Defender Dakar D7X-R will be none other than Stéphane Peterhansel, the man with 14 Dakar wins to his name, and Rokas Baciuška, Lithuania’s rising star and double world champion in the SSV and Challenger classes.

Defender Dakar D7X-R

The Defender Rally Team has officially launched its campaign with an intense testing phase in the Moroccan desert – a perfect simulation of the extreme terrain the cars will face in January 2026. Peterhansel, having recently joined the team, has already completed successful first runs in the D7X-R prototype.

Three Defender Dakar D7X-R vehicles will line up in the newly formed “Stock” category, which focuses on production-based cars. Two of these will also participate in selected rounds of the 2026 W2RC season. The third driver pairing is expected to be announced later this year, adding more excitement to an already promising lineup.

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 4x4, 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.”

W2RC 2026: New rules, new possibilities in the “Stock” category

The 2026 edition of the World Rally-Raid Championship is bringing a wave of change to the “Stock” category. With updated FIA regulations, the category is now more competitive than ever, reflecting the growing performance and popularity of modern 4x4s and SUVs.

These new rules allow for greater technical performance, giving Defender the ideal platform to demonstrate its legendary toughness and off-road capability.

Meanwhile, construction of the official race vehicles is already underway at JLR’s Nitra production facility in Slovakia, where the first D7X-R bodies have rolled off the line. An exhaustive test program will follow – all part of the rigorous preparation for the world's toughest rally.