Land Rover's Defender has been a familiar sight in the Dakar Rally for many years, but the British brand has never before lined up with a full factory team. That will change in 2026: the Defender will foray into the world's biggest rally-raid with three factory entries, with 14-time Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel spearheading the team's line-up.
Notably, the British manufacturer has opted not to compete in the top category, T1+ Ultimate, but will instead make its debut in the Stock class. This means the Defender D7X-R has only been modified in a few areas compared to the production model.
