DEFENDER DAKAR D7X-R TO MAKE PUBLIC DEBUT AT GOODWOOD FESTIVAL OF SPEED AS PROTOTYPE TEST PROGRAMME CONTINUES

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Defender Rally will showcase its latest version of the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype on the celebrated Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb
The rally car will also be exhibited and in action in the Off-Road Arena throughout the four-day event from 10-13 July
The car will be driven by two of Defender’s signed drivers – the talented Sara Price and legendary Stéphane Peterhansel
The public debut forms part of the team’s continued preparations for entry into the ‘Stock’ category of the 2026 Dakar Rally and World Rally-Raid Championship

Gaydon, UK – July 2025: Defender will run the Defender Dakar D7X-R on the iconic Goodwood Festival of Speed hillclimb and in the Off-Road Arena, as prototype testing continues ahead of entry into the 2026 Dakar Rally and World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).

Attendees will have the opportunity to see the rally car in action during the First Glance hillclimb across all four days of the festival in addition to appearances in the Off-Road Arena, where fans and enthusiasts can expect more extreme landscapes with challenging terrain.

Driving the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype on Thursday and Friday, and making her first appearance at the famous festival, is four-time Dakar stage winner Sara Price. Over the weekend, the legendary Stéphane Peterhansel, who has won the Dakar Rally a staggering 14 times, will then take the wheel. Both Sara and Stéphane were recently announced as official drivers for Defender, in addition to Rokas Baciuška.

Earlier this year, Defender announced a three-year entry to the World Rally-Raid Championship from 2026, with the first race on the calendar being the notorious Dakar Rally, famous for its epic distances and gruelling test of human and machine.

Defender will compete with the 110-based Dakar D7X-R which has been built to meet race regulations in the ‘Stock’ category for production vehicles.

The first prototype of the Defender Dakar D7X-R was tested in the sand dunes of Morocco in April, from which the team took a wealth of learning then applied to the next stage of the programme. The second prototype, which will be seen at Goodwood Festival of Speed, now features a number of upgrades suitable for its performance requirements and closer in spec to the official competition car due to be unveiled later this year. Updates include:

17-inch bespoke wheels fitted with 35-inch tyres for increased durability
Increased track width and ride height to match the eventual race car set up for additional capability
Significantly upgraded steering rack meeting motorsport specifications for enhanced performance
The standard exhaust has been removed, resulting in improved airflow

Sara Price, Defender driver, said: “I couldn’t be more excited to join Defender at Goodwood Festival of Speed, and I know I’m gonna feel so proud to drive up the famous hillclimb. It’s something that I’ve heard so much about for so long but have never before had the opportunity to get involved. Whilst the hillclimb will be a very special moment for me, I’m also excited to be running the car over at the Off-Road Arena.”

Stéphane Peterhansel, Defender driver, said: “I am looking forward to representing Defender at such a famous event. The hillclimb is so widely celebrated in the automotive and motorsport community so it will be my honour to showcase the Defender Dakar D7X-R in its current form. We hope that it encourages spectators to follow our journey in the real car next year!”

James Barclay, Managing Director of JLR Motorsport, said: “Goodwood Festival of Speed is an icon of the motorsport calendar. Last year, I had the pleasure of seeing our Jaguar TCS Racing all-electric racecar fly up the hill, and this year I am super proud that we will be showcasing the prototype of the Defender Dakar D7X-R. In just six months’ time, the team will be live and competing at the Dakar Rally, the “Everest of the off-road world”, the excitement is certainly building, and preparations are coming together for our first ever factory entry into this iconic event.”

Attendees can see the Defender Dakar D7X-R prototype on the famous Hillclimb at the following times: