Pretoria, South Africa – Monday, 6 January 2025
In an exciting new chapter for the iconic British brand, Defender has announced its official entry into the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), marking the start of a three-year commitment that will see the rugged luxury off-roader compete in the Dakar Rally and beyond. Beginning in 2026, Defender will field a works team in the fiercely competitive world of rally raid, with a strong focus on showcasing its unrivalled capability and durability.
The Road to Dakar: A Comprehensive Three-Year Programme
Over the course of the next three years, Defender will be represented by a two-car entry across the five rounds of the W2RC. However, it is the legendary Dakar Rally that will be the highlight, with Defender planning to enter a third vehicle for this prestigious event each year. Known as the ‘Everest of motorsport,’ Dakar offers an unparalleled test of endurance and performance, and Defender is primed to rise to the challenge.
Competing in the FIA’s new ‘Stock’ category – for production-based vehicles – Defender’s entry will be in line with new and revised regulations set to come into effect in 2026. These changes promise to make the category even more competitive, offering the perfect platform to demonstrate the rugged durability and exceptional performance that Defender is renowned for.
The works team will also undergo a full test and development programme in 2025, ensuring that the vehicles are fine-tuned and ready to take on the brutal demands of the Dakar Rally. The programme will culminate in a competitive test event during autumn 2025, with the official team launch slated for the months leading up to the 2026 Dakar Rally.
Designed for Extreme Adventure: Defender’s D7x Architecture
At the heart of Defender’s success in the FIA W2RC will be its purpose-engineered D7x architecture, built to handle the extreme conditions of rally raid racing. The D7x, which stands for extreme, is a lightweight aluminium monocoque construction that creates an exceptionally stiff body structure, three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame designs. This robust foundation ensures Defender can withstand the harshest terrains, including the rocky deserts and unforgiving sand dunes of the Dakar Rally, providing the perfect platform for peak performance and resilience.
Defender’s innovative design allows it to combine luxury with unmatched off-road capability, a combination that will no doubt turn heads as it takes on the world’s most demanding rally. From the start line in 2026, the Defender works team will be setting new standards for reliability, endurance, and competitive spirit.
A Game-Changing Motorsport Partnership
The decision to join the W2RC and Dakar Rally aligns with Defender’s growing presence in the world of motorsport, and this three-year partnership with the FIA represents a significant milestone for the brand. The works team’s participation will be bolstered by a multi-year agreement as the official vehicle partner to Dakar. From 2025, Defender will provide a fleet of 20 vehicles to support the event, transporting race officials and VIP media from the rally’s start in Bisha to its finish in Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, six highly specialised Defender recce vehicles will be deployed by Dakar organisers to plan the routes for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 events.
The Excitement Builds: The Countdown to 2026
With just over a year to go until the inaugural Defender works team entry at Dakar 2026, the anticipation is already palpable. Mark Cameron, Defender Managing Director, commented, “Dakar 2025 has begun. Defender is already here showcasing its capability and durability through our official car partnership, but to know that in 12 months we’ll be back with a three-car Defender works team entry at the beginning of a full FIA World Rally Raid Championship campaign is incredibly exciting. We have chosen to compete in the ‘Stock’ category to showcase the toughness and dependability of the production Defender.”
James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director, echoed Cameron’s enthusiasm, stating, “I’ve called Dakar the Everest of motorsport. Being here to once again see the prologue stage kick-off reinforces the challenge we face. It will be an incredible adventure from both human and engineering perspectives, and the team is already working hard to develop Defender within the new ‘Stock’ FIA W2RC rules for 2026 that will make for such a competitive category. We along with the FIA, ASO, and other manufacturers have helped shape these new regulations, which represent an exciting new chapter for the Dakar, W2RC, and Rally Raid in general.”
Ready for the Challenge
The coming years will see Defender rise to the occasion, taking on the ultimate motorsport adventure and pushing its extreme capability to new limits. As the team readies itself for the 2026 Dakar Rally, the world will be watching as Defender proves that it is not just a luxury brand, but a true champion of endurance and off-road performance.
Stay tuned as Defender continues to build anticipation for what promises to be one of the most exciting and competitive entries in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship. With its exceptional engineering, innovative design, and unwavering spirit, Defender is ready to conquer the world’s toughest rally – and to show the world what it truly means to be built for adventure.
