Moreover, Land Rover will be the official Dakar car partner from 2025, supplying a fleet of support vehicles for officials and VIP media

Land Rover announced that the Defender will begin competing in the Dakar Rally in 2026. The SUV will be used as a support vehicle for the 2025 race.

The 2024 Dakar Rally event was won by Audi in its third attempt with the RS Q e-tron. The car shared virtually nothing with Audi’s all-electric e-tron road car range and we expect Land Rover’s entry in 2026 will also be fairly unrecognisable from the Defender road car.

The impossible challenge of the Dakar has become the ideal battleground for the ever-growing and competitive automotive brands. It is the main stage where vehicles and drivers are tested in

The Defender will take on the world’s most gruelling off-road event in 2026, with the brand becoming Dakar’s official car partner

Spread the loveIntroduction The Land Rover Defender has long been an icon in the world of off-road vehicles, known for its rugged capabilities and timeless design. As we look ahead to the 2025 model year,

Choosing to take on the Dakar Rally is not for drivers or manufacturers who are faint of heart. Dakar is challenging for many reasons, not the least of which is its 4901 miles of loose, sandy surface that cars have to conquer — but the folks at Land Rover are up for the challenge.

Before 2026 comes 2025, and in 2025 Land Rover will be the “official car partner of the Dakar Rally”, which means it’ll provide a fleet of Defenders to support the event. They’ll have jobs like transporting Important Persons around, while six Defenders will be specially modified to “test routes for future Dakar events”.

The British firm will enter into the 2026 Dakar season with its most capable and toughest car in its line-up. Land Rover had revealed that it will be entering into the 2026 season of the famous Dakar rally with a Defender.