Land Rover Defender wins Dakar Rally Stock-class

Land Rover’s Defender D7X-R achieved victory in the new Stock-class at the 2026 Dakar Rally. Driven by Rokas Baciuška, the vehicle competed against high-cost prototypes to prove the capability of models derived from production SUVs. The team’s performance was dominant, with the Defender fleet securing first, second, and fourth places in the class, covering a total of 24,000 km across the event.

Following this racing success, Land Rover announced a limited production road version called the Defender Dakar. This street-legal model will feature a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine producing 635 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. It will incorporate technical elements from the D7X-R and the Defender OCTA, including Bilstein Advanced dampers, 35-inch tires on 20-inch wheels, and a specialized ‘Flight Mode’ designed to smooth landings after jumps in rugged terrain.