Defender Dakar Docuseries Lifts Lid on 2026 Rally Debut

Defender is about to find out what it’s really made of, and Warner Bros. Discovery will be there to capture every dusty, bruising moment. A new three-part docuseries will chronicle Defender’s first-ever entry into the Dakar Rally in 2026, taking viewers deep inside the preparation for the most unforgiving race in motorsport.

The spotlight falls on the all-new Defender Dakar D7X-R, which will compete in the fiercely contested Stock category for production-based vehicles. This isn’t a stripped-out fantasy racer either. While modified for rally-raid abuse, the D7X-R retains Defender’s D7x body architecture, transmission and driveline, along with the 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 from the Defender OCTA. That’s the same OCTA recently crowned BBC Top Gear Off-Roader of the Year 2026, now facing its ultimate real-world stress test across sand dunes, rocks and endless punishment.

The series follows Defender’s journey to the Dakar start line, from extreme off-road testing to final race readiness, revealing just how much work goes into turning a road-going off-road hero into a Dakar contender. Cameras are embedded with the team as they fine-tune the car and prepare for a full three-year World Rally-Raid Championship campaign.

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ABOVE: Defender Dakar Docuseries Lifts Lid on 2026 Rally Debut

On the driver front, Defender isn’t holding back. Fourteen-time Dakar winner Stéphane Peterhansel leads the charge alongside co-driver Mika Metge. They’re joined by rising star Rokas Baciuška with Oriol Vidal, and trailblazer Sara Price with Sean Berriman. Price’s story forms a key emotional thread in the series, as she returns to Dakar after claiming multiple stage wins in previous years and continues to push boundaries for women in motorsport.

Narration duties fall to Emmy-winning actress Gillian Anderson, adding a polished, cinematic edge to a story that celebrates endurance, ambition and resilience. The series promises exclusive interviews, unprecedented access and moments rarely seen outside the bivouac.

The first 45-minute episode premieres on 3 January 2026, airing ahead of the rally across Warner Bros. Discovery’s premium channels, including Eurosport and TNT Sports, spanning Europe, Asia-Pacific, the UK, Ireland and Latin America. Episodes two and three will follow later in the year, filmed during the subsequent Dakar Rally itself.

For Defender, Dakar is more than a debut. It’s a declaration of intent. This docuseries isn’t just about a race, but about proving that the toughest production Defender ever built belongs in the harshest motorsport environment on earth.

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