Bell & Ross named official timekeeper for Defender Rally ahead of Dakar 2026

Ahead of the start of the World Rally-Raid Championship 2026 it is clear that the French watch brand Bell & Ross becomes official timekeeper for Defender Rally. The collaboration begins with the legendary competition Dakar Rally which starts on 3 January in Saudi Arabia. The BR-X3 Black Titanium thereby gets a natural place in the rally car's cockpit – where every second counts.

Text: The editorial team Image: Bell & Ross / Dakar Rally

Bell & Ross + Defender Rally ahead of Dakar 2026

Bell & Ross continues its offensive within the world of motorsport and now begins a new collaboration with Defender Rally – a team that will take part in the prestigious World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). First out: the notorious Dakar Rally, which kicks off on 3 January 2026. Bell & Ross steps in as official timekeeper and equips the team with its BR-X3 Black Titanium.

A collaboration where everything is about extreme precision

For the initiated it is no surprise that Bell & Ross is drawn to environments where human and machine are pushed to the utmost. With roots in the aviation world the brand has always built watches for tough conditions, where function comes first but where design is not compromised. Rally-raid is in that context a self-evident extension of the brand's DNA.

”Dakar is an expression of courage, the urge to explore and pushing the limits – precisely the values that define Bell & Ross.” – Carlos Rosillo, co-founder and CEO

The model that is given the trust to follow the Defender team is the BR-X3 Black Titanium – a technically advanced watch that sums up the brand's core values: robustness, clarity and precision. A case in titanium (grade 2), a COSC-certified in-house movement and a design that is anything but discreet. It is the watch that does not only withstand the desert – it belongs there.

Land Rover Defender – an icon built to get through anywhere

Land Rover Defender is not just a car – it is an icon within the off-road segment. From British military service to expeditions in the world's most inhospitable environments the Defender has long stood as a symbol of reliability and capacity. The new generation Defender has been modernised without losing its soul, and in its rally-specific form – Defender D7X-R – it is built to meet the extreme strains in competitions like Dakar.

A shared design language – from instrument panel to wrist

Bell & Ross and Land Rover Defender have more in common than you might think. Both carry an industrial aesthetic where every shape has a function, where nothing is superfluous. The iconic watch shape – the round dial framed by a square shell – reflects the Defender's clean lines and uncompromising approach to adventure.

”The minimalist and functional design language of our iconic square watch is naturally reflected in the Defender's design.” – Bruno Belamich, co-founder and creative director

With that said this partnership feels both logical and exciting. Defender Rally lines up with the D7X-R – a specially built rally version of the Defender – and thus now has Bell & Ross as chronometric wingman throughout the whole championship.

From cockpit to sand dunes

Bell & Ross have long been associated with worlds that demand that little extra – from air forces to diving, from formula tracks to urban adventures. Through the collaboration with Defender Rally they cement their place also within the most brutal form of motorsport.

We at Eqotime are of course following this with great interest. Dakar is not for everyone – but for Bell & Ross (and Land Rover Defender) it seems to be exactly the right place.