BISHA (SAUDI ARABIA) ROME (ITALPRESS) – Defender will compete with an official team in the Dakar – the world’s most challenging off-road motorsport competition – as part of a full participation in the FIA World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) competitions. Starting in 2026, Defender’s three-year program will include two cars entered in the five rounds of the W2RC, plus a third car that will participate each year in the Dakar, the most prestigious event in the Championship. From 2026 to 2028, Defender vehicles will compete in the FIA’s “Stock” category – for production-based vehicles – in both the Dakar and other W2RC events. An update of the sporting and technical regulations in this important category will become operational in 2026, making the “Stock” significantly more competitive, the perfect platform to demonstrate the Defender’s extreme capability and durability.Defender is made for the Dakar. Its inherent capability and specially designed D7x (x for Extreme) architecture are based on a lightweight aluminum monocoque structure. This, is three times stiffer than traditional body-on-frame solutions, providing the perfect foundation to withstand the extreme conditions that the Dakar will impose. An extensive Defender race development program is already underway, culminating in a competitive test event in fall 2025, followed by a full team launch before Dakar 2026. “Dakar 2025 starts today. Defender is already here to show its capability and durability with our official automotive partnership, but knowing that in twelve months we will be back with an official Defender team of three cars to begin a full FIA World Rally Raid Championship campaign is incredibly exciting. We have chosen to compete in the ‘Stock’ category to showcase the ruggedness and reliability of Defender production. There is a lot of work to be done over the next twelve months, but with testing and development of the Defender program well underway, the team is already embracing the ultimate motorsport adventure that lies ahead from 2026,” said Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender. “I’ve called Dakar the Everest of motorsports. Being here today to see program developments reinforces our determination to take on this challenge. It will be an incredible adventure, both from a human and engineering perspective, and the team is already working hard to develop Defender according to the new FIA W2RC “Stock” rules for 2026, which will make the category so competitive. Together with the FIA, ASO and other manufacturers we have helped shape these new regulations, which represent an exciting new chapter for Dakar, W2RC and Rally Raid in general I look forward to soon being able to bring you more news about our Rally Raid competition Defenders in their development,” said James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director. Although Defender will not compete in the Dakar until 2026, it will play a key role at the 2025 rally as an official partner of the event. A fleet of 20 Defenders will participate in the event, which starts in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, and ends in Shubaytah, transporting race officials and VIP media. Another six highly specialized Defender reconnaissance vehicles will be used by Dakar Rally organizers to plan the routes for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 events.
photo: press office JLR Italy
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