Bell & Ross has announced its appointment as Official Timing Partner of Defender Rally, which will compete in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), beginning with the Dakar Rally 2026. The partnership places the luxury watchmaker at the heart of one of motorsport’s most demanding disciplines, reinforcing its long-standing association with performance, endurance and precision engineering.ly-Raid Championship, W2RC, Swiss watchmaking, performance timepieces
The Dakar Rally, widely regarded as the ultimate test of mechanical resilience and human stamina, offers a natural environment for Bell & Ross — a brand known for creating professional timepieces designed for extreme conditions. As official timekeeper, Bell & Ross will support the Defender Rally team throughout the championship, with its watches accompanying drivers across the unforgiving terrain of the Saudi desert.
The BR-X3 Black Titanium
Central to the partnership is the BR-X3 Black Titanium, the timepiece selected to equip the Defender Rally team. Crafted from grade 2 titanium, the watch combines lightness with exceptional robustness, a key requirement in rally-raid conditions where vibration, heat and impact are constant factors. Its COSC-certified manufacture movement underscores Bell & Ross’ commitment to chronometric precision, while high-contrast legibility ensures immediate readability in fast-changing environments where every second counts.
The BR-X3 Black Titanium also represents the evolution of Bell & Ross’ distinctive design language. The brand’s signature “circle within a square” case, originally inspired by aviation instruments, balances functional clarity with a bold, contemporary aesthetic. In the context of rally-raid competition, the watch becomes more than an accessory — it functions as a genuine onboard instrument.
Built For Extremes
Bell & Ross’ presence in motorsport builds on a history of partnerships across high-performance environments, including aviation, professional diving and competitive racing. Its continued involvement reflects a consistent philosophy: designing watches as tools, purpose-built for professionals operating at the limits.
The collaboration with Defender Rally extends beyond timing duties, aligning two brands that share a focus on functionality, durability and purposeful design. As the W2RC season unfolds, the partnership highlights how watchmaking expertise can intersect with modern motorsport — where precision, endurance and performance remain essential, both on the wrist and on the road.
(Images: Bell & Ross)
