PROTOTYPE DEFENDER D7X-R STORMS GOODWOOD AHEAD OF DAKAR RALLY DEBUT
Land Rover has officially fired the starting gun on a new off-road era with the reveal of the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype, which made its global public debut at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed. This highly modified, race-bred Defender 110 was put through its paces on the famous hillclimb and the gnarly Off-Road Arena across all four days of the festival - giving the world a proper taste of what’s coming to the 2026 Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). This prototype isn't just a showpiece - it’s the first glimpse at what’s set to battle in the newly revised ‘Stock’ category, a class dedicated to production-based vehicles. That update means more direct competition and a much tougher proving ground, making it the perfect launchpad for Defender to flex its legendary off-road credentials. The D7X-R is based on the Defender 110, but with Dakar-ready enhancements that push its capability and durability to new extremes. Taking the wheel at Goodwood were two heavy hitters from the world of rally-raid: Sara Price, a four-time Dakar stage winner, and Stéphane Peterhansel, a bona fide icon of the Dakar Rally with a jaw-dropping 14 overall wins to his name. Joining them in the growing Defender Rally driver line-up is Rokas Baciuška, making this one of the most potent off-road trios around.
Sara Price was clearly buzzing from the experience: “I’ve loved being at Goodwood — there’s so much going on. I drove on the famous hillclimb four times, which was so awesome. And I also drove in the Off-Road Arena, which was super fun, because anytime I get in this vehicle is just so exciting for me. The car felt really good – it's the total package. We were showing off our prototype car at Goodwood, but it’s about to get even more real as our competition Defender will be finished soon and the real testing will begin.”
Stéphane Peterhansel was equally enthusiastic: “It was an honour to be here at Goodwood. For many years, I have been intrigued by the famous hillclimb, and now I have experienced it for myself. It has been a great event to attend, and I enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting some fans. I’m looking forward to the next few months of preparations ahead of our entry to Dakar in the Stock category. To go back to the roots with a production car, and with Defender which is the best off-road brand, I’m really proud to be part of it. We will try to write the new chapter of history with Defender at Dakar. It’s going to be an adventure and an opportunity to show what a production car can do."
The event also marked a key milestone in the formation of the Defender Rally team, which is now locking in high-profile partners ahead of its competitive debut. Castrol has signed on as Official Fluids Partner, ensuring the D7X-R is equipped with cutting-edge lubricants and performance fluids tailored to endure the brutal terrain of the W2RC’s five-round calendar. Joining them is Shackleton, the British expedition and performance apparel specialist, who will supply the team with technical outerwear and gear built for extreme environments - from desert dunes to high-altitude trails. The Defender D7X-R development programme has been charging forward since April, when the first prototype tackled the fierce sand dunes of Morocco. Learnings from that shakedown were baked into the second prototype - the same machine that roared into Goodwood - bringing it one step closer to full competition spec. Key upgrades include:
17-inch bespoke wheels wrapped in massive 35-inch tyres, engineered for maximum durability
Wider track and increased ride height to match the Dakar race setup
A motorsport-spec steering rack, delivering sharper, more responsive handling
A revised exhaust setup - the standard system has been ditched to improve airflow and reduce restriction
This evolution of Defender signals more than just a motorsport entry - it’s the beginning of a new chapter that ties the brand’s legendary off-road DNA to one of the toughest endurance events on the planet. Dakar 2026 is already shaping up to be a proving ground for more than just man and machine - it’s the ultimate test of production-based innovation in the dirt, and Defender is coming out swinging.
Take a look at the YouTube video hosted over at Tuning Blog EU that shows this rather cool-looking prototype in action on the dunes it was created for - a far cry from the Goodwood Hill: Defender Dakar D7X-R: Getestet in der Sahara, bereit für die Rallye 2026! | tuningblog.eu
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