Land Rover Defender Octa Gets Set For Racing

Land Rover is preparing the Defender Octa model for the factory car category of the World Rally Raid Championship next January, and the first photos of the prototype called the Dakar D7X-R have appeared online.

The Defender in the photos is wearing a camouflage livery and white stickers and was driven for testing purposes in the Moroccan part of the Sahara, where conditions of extreme temperatures and dust are similar to those during the Dakar, which awaits the D7X-R in less than eight months.

Given that it is in the “stock” category, the car is almost identical to the standard Octa model, featuring the same aluminum structure, eight-speed automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive.

There are no changes to BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine, so it likely delivers 635 hp and 750 Nm of torque.

Land Rover also took the opportunity to confirm the lineup of its factory team, which consists of Rokas Baciuska and experienced 14-time Dakar winner Stephane Peterhansel. The Dane has achieved 14 titles in just 35 appearances. A third driver will be confirmed at a later date.

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• Read More: ‘Land Rover Defender OCTA’ To Race In 2026 Dakar Rally And FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship