DEFENDER DAKAR - FORGED IN THE WORLD'S TOUGHEST RALLY
EXTREME CONDITIONS, PROVEN CAPABILITY
Defender has been pushed to its limits ahead of its Dakar Rally debut, one of the most demanding motorsport events on the planet. Known as the ultimate test of endurance, Dakar spans thousands of kilometres across deserts, dunes, and rocky terrain—conditions that punish even the toughest machines.
This milestone marks a bold demonstration of Defender’s engineering excellence and off-road dominance, as the brand prepares for a three-year FIA World Rally-Raid Championship works programme beginning in 2026. Every kilometre of testing in 2025 has been about one mission: proving that Defender is ready for the Everest of motorsport.
FROM SUPPORT FLEET TO WORKS TEAM
Defender’s Dakar journey began in 2025 as official car partner, supplying a fleet of 20 support vehicles and six highly specialised recce vehicles. These vehicles transported race officials, VIP media, and assisted in route planning for the 2026–2028 events.
But this was only the start. From 2026, Defender will compete as a works team, entering two vehicles across all five rounds of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). For the Dakar Rally itself—the crown jewel of the series—the team will field three cars, signalling a serious commitment to motorsport at the highest level.
THE STOCK CATEGORY CHALLENGE
Defender will compete in the new ‘Stock’ category for production-based vehicles—a strategic choice that speaks volumes about the confidence in its core design.
Mark Cameron, Defender Managing Director, explains:
“We have chosen to compete in the ‘Stock’ category to showcase the toughness and dependability of the production Defender.”
This is not about building a bespoke race car. It’s about proving that the Defender you can buy is engineered to conquer the world’s harshest terrain.
ENGINEERING FOR THE EVEREST OF MOTORSPORT
James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director, calls Dakar “the Everest of motorsport”, and the comparison is apt. The rally pushes vehicles beyond conventional limits—through sand, rocks, extreme temperatures, and terrain that would break lesser machines.
Throughout 2025, the Defender works team completed a comprehensive test and development programme, refining the vehicle within new FIA W2RC regulations while preserving the DNA that makes Defender legendary.
DEFENDER OCTA INFLUENCE
Learnings from the Defender OCTA programme—our high-performance halo model—have shaped the Dakar-ready vehicles. OCTA’s advanced suspension technology, durability enhancements, and performance tuning provided a foundation for engineering solutions that thrive in extreme conditions. This synergy ensures that the same innovation driving OCTA’s on-road precision now powers Defender’s off-road endurance.