The desert grants no second chances. For weeks, the Rally Dakar 2026 put machines, teams, and people to the test in one of the most extreme environments on the planet. Now that the sand has settled again and the roar of the engines has faded, what truly matters remains: what has proven to be up to the challenge.
In this edition, Bell & Ross was not a mere spectator. It served as the Official Timekeeper of Defender Rally, supporting the team at every stage, every decision, and every crucial second of the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC). When time is decisive, there is no room for improvisation.
The desert crowned the champions
After 13 relentless stages across the most demanding terrain, Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal claimed victory in the Stock category aboard the Defender Dakar D7X-R, finishing the event with the best cumulative time in their class. A triumph that made them overall winners of the Stock class in an edition marked by toughness and consistency.
It was not a stroke of luck, but the result of meticulous work, kilometer by kilometer, stage after stage, in a rally where every second can change the outcome. Alongside them, their teammates also stood out, reaffirming the performance of the Defender Dakar D7X-R in one of the most demanding Dakar categories.
Precision proven under real pressure
On the drivers’ wrists there was not only adrenaline and tension: there was Bell & Ross. The BR-X3 Black Titanium proved at the Dakar that it is not just a bold-looking watch, but a precision instrument designed to perform in extreme conditions.
Its lightweight, resistant titanium case withstood dust, vibrations, and extreme temperatures. Its in-house automatic movement, COSC-certified, ensured constant accuracy when there was no margin for error. And its absolute legibility, inspired by aeronautical instruments, enabled instant reading even in the most critical moments.
Two worlds, one shared language
The link between Bell & Ross and Defender Rally goes beyond a one-time collaboration. It is the meeting of two philosophies that share the same obsession: creating honest, functional tools built to go beyond established limits.
The Defender Dakar D7X-R and Bell & Ross watches share a visual and technical language based on functionality, robustness, and purity of form. In the desert, this coherence is not a detail — it is an advantage.
When the race ends, the story begins
Dakar 2026 is already part of history. But what was proven there endures. A watch that has overcome one of the toughest competitions in the world needs no promises — it speaks through facts.
The BR-X3 Black Titanium is not only the memory of a Dakar victory. It is the expression of a way of understanding time: it is not decorated, it is mastered. And when everything has been put to the test, excellence is recognized in silence.
Visit the MAISON ROCA boutique at Av. Meritxell, 50 to discover the story of the BR-X3 Black Titanium, or contact us for more information.
