DEFENDER: OFFICIAL DAKAR CAR PARTNER FROM 2025 AND COMPETING FROM 2026
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British adventure brand Defender will be the official car partner of the Dakar Rally from 2025 and, from 2026, a Defender works team will compete in what is the world’s toughest rally raid event.
Starting with the 2025 Dakar Rally (3-17 January) and set to continue to 2028, the partnership will provide a fleet of Defenders to support the event, transporting rally officials and VIP media for the duration of the competition. Along with Defender branding across Dakar, a fleet of six specialised Defender recce vehicles will also be supplied to support officials of the Dakar organisation, to test routes for future Dakar events.
In addition to its role as official car partner from 2025, Defender has confirmed its intention to enter a works team, beginning in 2026. Defender’s commitment will prove its extreme durability and capability in the world’s most demanding off-road competition. Details about the future Defender rally raid competition programme will be announced during Dakar 2025.
Mark Cameron, Defender Managing Director, said: “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.”
James Barclay, JLR Motorsport Managing Director, said: “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.”
David Castera, Director of the Dakar: “We are thrilled to welcome Defender as the new official car partner of the Dakar. It is an iconic brand, present on all continents, that shares our passion for adventure, performance, and innovation. We are also excited that Defender will accompany us throughout the year, providing vehicles for the organising teams and for the route reconnaissance. Their reliability and robustness will help us improve our daily efficiency. Furthermore, starting in 2026, Defender will enter the competition as an official team. Together, we will shine a spotlight on Dakar on the international stage and offer a unique experience to all.”
The fleet of Defender support vehicles will follow competitors in the 2025 Dakar – the 47th edition of the event, and the sixth in Saudi Arabia – as they take on a course stretching from Bisha to Shubaytah. The epic route includes a demanding three-day adventure through the Empty Quarter, where the race will reach its conclusion.
