Land Rover is officially back in the crucible of off road racing, the Dakar Rally with the release of its new competitor the Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R. This car is not just an overhauled SUV, but an overall statement of the heritage of British brands and their ability to endure, and this car is designed to compete in the most dangerous event on the Earth.
Slated to compete in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) starting with the iconic Dakar Rally on January 3rd, the D7X-R features a demonstration of how advanced technology and strong production structure can be integrated to address the high demands of Stock format FIA racing. This is an effective message by Land Rover that the essence of adventure and uncapped ability is still in the core of the brand.
Built from the Best: The Defender OCTA Foundation
The D7X-R is taken as a direct base of the most able and strong production Land Rover Defender of all times: the flagship Defender OCTA. Having to compete in the Stock category, the team has to comply with some very strict regulations according to which the vehicle needs to change little in terms of production origins, which demonstrates the intrinsic power of the underlying platform.
The racer still has the purpose-engineered, tough, D7x body architecture but it is based on a lightweight monocoque construction made of stiff aluminum. Below the skin, the powertrain is essentially the same, with it being powered by the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine. But all the details of these central parts have been faithfully enhanced to compete in rally-raid.
The new striking new Geopalette livery is the environmental celebration of the vehicle in its outside fashion. This design was inspired by the dry nature of the Dakar with sand, stone and earth colors being used with a slight contrast being made by an Aqua accent that gives the impression of the rare water in the desert which the Land Rover is constructed to conquer.
Sustainable Power and Extreme Cooling
To make a nod to the future of motorsport, the Defender Dakar D7X-R will also be powered by an advanced eco-sustainable fuel, well within the FIA regulation of the category. Although the V8 engine is not mechanically different, its strength is regulated with the help of an air-intake restrictor, which makes sure that Stock category rules on power to weight are not violated.
The heat of the desert and rally-raid conditions in general is a huge test to engine reliability. To measure up to this, Land Rover engineers embarked on a major upgrade in terms of cooling package. There is only one, large radiator instead of the three in the production model, which has four strong 12V fans to help work with low speed. The bonnet and the grille are revised in order to maximize ventilation, and a special particle filter has been incorporated, so that the smallest sand of the desert is kept out of the air intakes–a very important defence against engine failure.
Moreover, the D7X-R is designed to have enormous stamina. It uses the Defender 110 as its body shape but the interior is dominated by a giant custom 550-liter fuel tank to ensure its ability to cope with the epic stages which may exceed 800 kilometres between refuelling points.
Improved Chassis and the Advantage of the Flight Mode
The capacity of a Land Rover to tackle the severe impacts is the most important in the Dakar. In this regard, the chassis will have a 35 inch tire package, 60mm additional track width, and increased ride height, which will substantially increase ground clearance.
The suspension system has also been upgraded to an exclusive performance damper package that has been co-created with BILSTEIN, the Official Shock Absorber Partner of the Team. This contains one coil-over system on the front and two parallel dampers at the back. This high-performance system is to accommodate the excessive forces and weight of the fully-fuelled car in a sustained high-speed desert running.
The novel Flight Mode is perhaps the most clever proprietary rally technology. This system that was developed by the Land Rover team involves sensors that identify whenever the D7X-R is in the air which is a common occurrence when climbing up a desert dune. It automatically changes the amount of engine torque it delivers to the wheels, making the touchdown process smooth and controlled, and protecting the drivetrain against shock-inducing catastrophe on landing.
Land Rover’s Star-Studded Driver Lineup
To pilot the three D7X-R entries, Land Rover has created a team of drivers and co-drivers that is internationally recognized and whose mechanical ability has been matched to human experience. The crews are:
- Dakar-legend Stéphane Peterhansel and Mika Metge.
- Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal.
- Sara Price and Sean Berriman.
Having already covered more than 6,000km of proving ground, a Team Principal, Ian James, says: “We are going to Dakar because we know it is one of the most demanding in the world of motorsport. Land Rover Defender Dakar D7X-R will start its three year W2RC program, where it will firmly establish the Land Rover name at the top of the off-road race in the world.
It will commence in Saudi Arabia to Dakar and subsequently to other events in Portugal, Argentina, Morocco and the United Arab Emirates.