Defender to Showcase Its Unmatched Durability as Official Car Partner and Works Team Competitor in the Legendary Dakar Rally
In a groundbreaking collaboration, British icon Defender is set to become the official car partner of the world-renowned Dakar Rally starting in 2025. This multi-year partnership will elevate Defender’s legacy, as it enters the most challenging motorsport event on the planet, further cementing its reputation for extreme durability and capability.
A Historic Partnership
Defender’s involvement begins with the 2025 Dakar Rally, which runs from January 3-17. From that moment, Defender will not only supply a fleet of vehicles to support rally officials and VIP media, but it will also provide six specialised recce vehicles used to test future rally routes. The partnership extends through 2028, highlighting Defender’s dedication to the event’s success and ensuring the brand’s continued presence at one of motorsport’s toughest challenges.
The Defender Works Team at Dakar
The excitement doesn’t stop with the partnership. In a historic move, Defender will field a works team for the 2026 Dakar Rally. This will mark the first time the legendary 4×4 brand competes in the race, proving its extreme performance capabilities in the world’s most demanding off-road endurance event. The works entry will showcase Defender’s engineering prowess and will challenge the vehicle in the most grueling conditions possible.
Endurance and Innovation: Defender’s DNA
“Adventure is in the very DNA of the Defender brand, so we are inspired to partner with Dakar – the ultimate motorsport adventure – where competitors truly embrace the impossible. Our partnership begins in 2025 when Defender will showcase its capability and durability as the official car of the event, but we are already looking to the future and entering a Defender Dakar works team from 2026. That Defender Dakar works programme will be led by James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director, and I know James and his team are inspired by the challenge that lays ahead,” said Mark Cameron, Defender’s Managing Director.
James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director, added, “Anyone who loves motorsport will have a passion for Dakar. It’s the Everest of motorsport and an event where success is dependent as much on human determination in the toughest of conditions as it is ultimate test for vehicle and engineering capability. Bringing the world’s most capable and iconic 4×4 to the world’s most iconic rally-raid is a perfect fit. Our first time ever with a factory entry into the Dakar means we are right at the beginning of our journey. We are conscious of how much we have to learn and achieve before taking the start in 2026, but we are already well under way and looking forward to the adventure. We will share more details of this exciting programme at the Dakar rally in 2025.”
The 2025 Dakar: A True Test of Capability
For the 2025 edition, the Defender fleet will support participants across the demanding course, which spans from Bisha to Shubaytah, including an epic three-day journey through the Empty Quarter. This route promises to push the vehicles and competitors to their limits, making it a true test of durability and endurance. The partnership aims to showcase Defender’s resilience under extreme conditions, providing an unmatched experience for Dakar officials and participants.
A New Era for Defender
This exciting collaboration positions Defender not only as a formidable partner for the Dakar Rally but also as a symbol of innovation and durability in motorsport. As the 2026 works team entry approaches, all eyes will be on Defender as it sets out to conquer the Dakar, delivering on its promise of unparalleled performance.
