Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has announced that the Defender will be the official vehicle of the Dakar 2025, providing a fleet of vehicles that will be at the service of the organization of the legendary off-road race.
Additionally, for the 2026 edition, Land Rover will have an official team in the Dakar, which will be driving a Defender.
The goal of JLR is to prove the “extreme durability and capability of the Defender in the most demanding off-road competition in the world”. However, the model intended for Dakar in 2026 will likely be quite different from the production models, both in terms of design and technical specifications.
“Our partnership begins in 2025, with the Defender showcasing its capability and durability as the official vehicle of the event, but we are already looking to the future and the participation with a team that will compete with a Defender in the Dakar starting in 2026. This Defender Dakar program will be led by James Barclay, Executive Director of JLR Motorsport, and I know that James and his team are inspired by the challenge that lies ahead”, said Mark Cameron, General Manager of the Defender brand.
It is worth noting that the 2025 edition of the Dakar will take place from January 3 to 17 in Saudi Arabia.
