JLR Korea has announced that the Defender is gearing up for its participation in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). The automaker has completed prototype testing of the Defender Dakar D7X-R in the Moroccan desert and has signed two star drivers to its roster.
The team has recruited legendary driver Stéphane Peterhansel, who boasts an impressive 14 Dakar Rally victories. Joining him is promising Lithuanian talent Rokas Baciuška. Peterhansel has already taken part in the initial test in Morocco, putting the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype through its paces. The team is now ramping up preparations for the 2026 Dakar Rally, widely regarded as the world’s most grueling long-distance off-road competition.
The Defender, renowned for its unparalleled durability and off-road prowess, is set to make its works debut in the Stock category at the 2026 Dakar Rally. Three Defender Dakar D7X-R vehicles will be fielded in the competition, with two of them slated to continue in the remaining rounds of the 2026 W2RC.
James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director, stated that they’ve fired the starting gun on their preparations with the successful completion of the Defender Dakar D7X-R’s first official test. We’re looking at a packed testing schedule as we count down to the Dakar Rally. With just eight months to go for the toughest rally on the planet, all of the team members are performing great. Barclay expressed his enthusiasm that they unveil for the first time two world-class drivers from their star-studded lineup. He added that Stéphane Peterhansel, the most decorated driver in Dakar history, brings invaluable real-world experience to the team.
