Defender, testing in Morocco, presents its Team Principal

It was in the Sahara that the Defender Dakar D7X-R continued to prepare for the 2026 Dakar Rally, which will be its first competitive outing. Derived from the Defender OCTA, the car will be entered in the "Stock" category, which concerns 4x4s derived from the series, and which aims to offer an alternative to the super-powerful T1+ for those wishing to tackle the Dakar.

The team announced that it has completed several thousand kilometers of testing in Morocco in recent weeks, particularly in the dunes, a route that the Dakar D7X-R will have to tackle next January in Saudi Arabia. While the team has completed its tests in Morocco, it does not plan to participate in the Rally of Morocco, which will take place from October 10 to 17.

The brand's three drivers for the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), Stéphane Peterhansel, Sara Price, and Rokas Baciuška, were able to drive around Erfoud, where the final four stages of the Rallye du Maroc will take place in a few weeks. The team also simulated Dakar-style stages, including liaison, online specials, and navigation using the digital roadbooks now used on the world's biggest rally-raid.

Ian James joins the adventure

These tests were an opportunity for Defender to ride for the first time with its new Team Principal, Ian James. The Briton, who until then presided over the destiny of the team McLaren en Formula E, will therefore be responsible for leading the Defender project at the Dakar, and was present in Morocco to oversee these very important test sessions.

“It’s an honor to lead the Defender Rally Team as we enter the almighty world of rally-raid competition in 2026, the first of a three-year program. With a world-class team and drivers in place, and the first competition-level Defender Dakar D7X-R currently demonstrating its desert capabilities, I’m looking forward to working on the rest of the intensive preparations ahead of the Dakar Rally in January. There’s still plenty to do, but we’re all committed to making 2026 a memorable year in W2RC for the Defender brand.”

So come back in January to see these Defenders up close, which will certainly be one of the attractions of the next Dakar…

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