Land Rover will make its Dakar Rally debut in 2026 with a three-car Defender fleet. Driver details have not yet been announced, but the company expects to recruit experienced racers to lead the program. Currently, Defender is the official vehicle partner of the Dakar Rally, providing 20 SUVs to event officials and VIP guests. In addition, Land Rover will provide six modified Defenders to assist ASO with key tasks such as road mapping and logistics for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 versions. This marks an important milestone in Land Rover’s deep involvement in one of motorsport’s toughest events.
James Barclay, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Motorsport, said: “I call the Dakar the Everest of motorsport. To see the launch of the prologue stage again here today compounds the challenges we face. From It’s going to be an incredible adventure from both a human and engineering perspective, and the team is already hard at work developing the Defender to comply with the new “Stock” FIA W2RC rules for 2026, which will make it a competitive racer. category.
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“Together with the FIA, ASO and other manufacturers we have helped shape these new rules and they represent an exciting new chapter for the Dakar, W2RC and Rally Raid. I look forward to bringing you more information soon about the Rally Raid competition we are developing Specs More news on Defender.
Dakar: Land Rover Defender specs
Land Rover has yet to reveal specific powertrains for the Dakar Rally. However, the Defender is built on the D7X aluminum platform, which provides a solid foundation for its performance. This monocoque structure is three times stiffer than traditional SUV designs, ensuring durability and reliability in extreme conditions.
For consumers, the Defender range includes three body styles: 90, 110 and 130. The Defender 110 is also available as a plug-in hybrid, underscoring Land Rover’s commitment to sustainable mobility and electrification.
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From 2026 to 2028, Defender models will compete in the Dakar Rally and the World Rally Championship (W2RC) in the FIA ”Stock” category. This engagement underlines Land Rover’s commitment to showcasing the Defender’s off-road capabilities, endurance and engineering on the toughest global stages.
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