Defender’s Dakar Ambitions are Set to Reach New Heights with the All-New Defender OCTA, a Competitor Built for Extreme Performance
Land Rover’s iconic Defender family is set to make a bold entrance into the world’s most grueling off-road event, the Dakar Rally, and the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) from 2026. The latest addition to the Defender line-up, Defender OCTA, will serve as the cornerstone for the British brand’s competition vehicles, showcasing its unmatched durability, performance, and capability in the world’s most demanding motorsport events.
Rally-Ready Performance: A Perfect Match for Dakar
Defender OCTA, already known as the fastest and most capable Defender ever produced, will form the foundation for Land Rover’s competition entry in the ‘Stock’ category of the Dakar Rally and the W2RC. The ‘Stock’ category, which mandates vehicles based on production models, will be governed by new and stringent regulations from 2026. These revisions are designed to enhance the competitiveness of the category and allow high-performance 4x4s and SUVs to push the limits of rally-raid racing.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender, commented, “Taking on the most demanding rally-raid event in the world represents the ultimate test of our most extreme Defender to date. We know that Dakar will be an immense challenge, but Defender OCTA combines huge performance with characteristic Defender capability and durability – the perfect foundations for what I’m confident will be a highly competitive rally-raid vehicle.”
A Tough, Tested Vehicle Built for the Harshest Environments
At the heart of the Defender OCTA’s design is its D7x body architecture, a revolutionary construction that offers three times the strength of traditional body-on-frame designs. This robust framework ensures the vehicle can endure the intense forces encountered in rally-raid events. Paired with Defender OCTA’s bespoke geometry and kinematic design, it is clear why this platform was chosen to underpin Land Rover’s Dakar ambitions.
Every competition vehicle will retain Defender OCTA’s tough D7x body architecture, transmission, and driveline layout, ensuring consistency in performance across the championship rounds. Powering these vehicles will be Defender OCTA’s 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which delivers formidable strength, speed, and reliability on the most treacherous terrains.
Commitment to Rally-raid Excellence
James Barclay, Managing Director of JLR Motorsport, added, “Defender competing in Dakar will be an incredibly exciting challenge. We had a vision for the future of production-based vehicles in rally-raid so it has been incredibly positive to align with the ASO, FIA and other manufacturers and work collaboratively to create the new regulations for the ‘Stock’ category. We now have the right platform to authentically demonstrate Defender’s capability in the biggest challenge in off-road motorsport. Ahead of us is a year of detailed preparation, testing and learning to be ready for Dakar 2026. The team are already well under way and we are very much looking forward to competing in both Dakar and W2RC – the world’s toughest off-road events.”
Ahead of its 2026 debut, Land Rover is embarking on an exhaustive competition vehicle development program. This will involve extensive testing and preparation, culminating in a full team launch later this year. The final line-up will feature two vehicles in the W2RC and three vehicles in the Dakar Rally – showcasing the Defender’s true off-road dominance.
Defender at Dakar: A New Era Begins
While the Defender will officially compete in Dakar and W2RC starting in 2026, it will play a prominent role in the 2025 Dakar Rally as the event’s official vehicle partner. A fleet of 20 Defenders will support the rally, transporting race officials and VIP media throughout the event. Additionally, six specially modified Defender recce vehicles will aid rally organizers in planning the challenging routes for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 rallies.
This marks the beginning of a four-year partnership between Land Rover and the Dakar Rally, with Defender demonstrating its capabilities as a vehicle designed for the toughest off-road adventures.
A Legacy of Luxury, Durability, and Capability
The Defender brand, underpinned by over 75 years of Land Rover expertise, has long been synonymous with exceptional durability and off-road capability. Designed and engineered in the UK, Defender is now available in 121 countries, standing as a beacon of both adventure and modern luxury. Each Defender is crafted to offer unmatched strength and resilience, making it the perfect choice for those who seek the ultimate in off-road performance.
