Bell & Ross Takes on Dakar Rally as Official Timekeeper with Defender Rally Partnership
Bell & Ross has shifted into rally-raid mode. The French-designed, Swiss-made watchmaker has officially partnered with Defender Rally, the competition team backed by British marque Land Rover, to serve as its timing partner for the 2026 Dakar Rally, the opening round of the World Rally-Raid Championship.
In one of the most extreme motorsport environments on earth, where precision timing is as crucial as horsepower and navigation, Bell & Ross will be on the clock for Defender Rally and its drivers as they tackle the brutal stages of the Saudi desert. It’s a proving ground where reliability is non-negotiable and mechanical failure is simply not an option.
At the heart of the collaboration is the Bell & Ross BR-X3 Black Titanium, a performance-focused timepiece supplied to the team. The watch takes the brand’s familiar square-case identity and hardens it for rally duty, using a lightweight grade 5 titanium case that balances strength with comfort. As ever, legibility is king. The dial is designed to be read instantly, even in harsh sunlight or dust-filled conditions.
Powering the BR-X3 is a manufacture movement with chronometer certification, offering stable performance and a solid power reserve. It’s a technical package that aligns neatly with Bell & Ross’s long-standing reputation for building watches intended for professionals operating in extreme environments.
Bell & Ross has highlighted the shared values behind the partnership, pointing to the Dakar Rally as a symbol of endurance, exploration and pushing beyond limits. These are principles that sit comfortably alongside the brand’s aviation-inspired roots and its emphasis on function-first design.
While Bell & Ross is best known for its ties to the cockpit, this marks a renewed commitment to motorsport timing. The Defender Rally partnership places the brand back into competitive automotive action, where toughness, precision and clarity matter just as much as aesthetics.
As the Dakar Rally gets underway, the pairing of rugged Defender machinery and precision Swiss timekeeping feels entirely on point. If there’s anywhere a watch needs to prove itself, it’s here.
