Jaguar Land Rover to Enter Defender Brand into 2026 Dakar Rally
Jaguar Land Rover has announced that they will be entering the Defender brand into the 2026 Dakar Rally series. The British marque will be operating under a works team in the off-road endurance race, utilizing the Defender’s extreme durability and capability in one of the most challenging motorsport competitions in the world.
James Barclay, JLR motorsport boss, stated that further details regarding their entry into the Dakar Rally will be revealed next year. He expressed excitement about this new venture, acknowledging that they have a lot to learn and achieve before the race in 2026.
In addition to entering the race, Jaguar Land Rover has also become an official sponsor of the Dakar Rally until 2028. As part of this partnership, they will provide a fleet of specially engineered Defender support vehicles for the competition.
Mark Cameron, Defender brand boss, highlighted the brand’s affinity for adventure and expressed enthusiasm about partnering with Dakar, known as the ultimate motorsport adventure. He mentioned that the partnership will kick off in 2025, with Defender serving as the official car of the event before they enter a Defender Dakar works team in 2026.
The 47th edition of the Dakar Rally, the sixth to be held in Saudi Arabia, is set to begin on 3 January in Bisha and conclude on 17 January in Shubaytah.
