- The Defender brand will enter Dakar and the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC) from 2026 with a new competition‑spec vehicle derived from Defender OCTA
- The Defender brand will compete in the ‘Stock’ category for production‑based vehicles which from 2026 will conform to new and heavily revised regulations
- The tough underpinnings and 4.4‑litre twin turbo V8 of the Defender OCTA will be central to the competition vehicles
- Every competition vehicle will retain the same tough D7x body architecture, transmission and driveline layout as Defender OCTA – testament to its durability and strength
Mahwah, NJ ‑ Monday January 20, 2025: Defender OCTA – the performance hero of the legendarily capable Defender family – will form the basis of the Defender brand’s Dakar and FIA World Rally Raid Championship competition challenger from 2026, showcasing its extraordinary performance credentials in what is considered the world’s toughest off‑road events.
All‑terrain capability and strength are at the core of every Defender vehicle and these attributes are essential for any rally‑raid competition vehicle. Selecting Defender OCTA – the fastest and most capable Defender vehicle ever made – as the basis for the British adventure brand’s rally‑raid program was a natural choice.
Defender will run a two‑vehicle entry of competition‑spec Defender vehicles across the full five rounds of the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC) under the ‘Stock’ category for production‑based vehicles, and a three‑vehicle entry in the championship’s halo event, the Dakar Rally, from 2026.
New regulations aimed at making the ‘Stock’ category significantly more competitive will be implemented by 2026, as the FIA and Dakar organizers respond to the growing popularity of high‑performance 4x4s and SUVs. It’s the increased performance these new regulations permit that make the Stock category perfect to authentically demonstrate the exceptional durability and capability of Defender vehicles.
Taking on the most demanding rally‑raid event in the world represents the ultimate test of our Defender vehicle to date. We know that Dakar will be an immense challenge, but Defender OCTA combines huge performance with characteristic Defender capability and durability – the perfect foundations for what I’m confident will be a highly competitive rally‑raid vehicle.
Mark Cameron
Defender Managing Director
Defender competing in Dakar will be an incredibly exciting challenge. We had a vision for the future of production‑based vehicles in rally‑raid so it has been incredibly positive to align with the ASO, FIA and other manufacturers and work collaboratively to create the new regulations for the ‘Stock’ category. We now have the right platform to authentically demonstrate the capability of Defender in the biggest challenge in off‑road motorsport. Ahead of us is a year of detailed preparation, testing and learning to be ready for Dakar 2026. The team are already well under way and we are very much looking forward to competing in both Dakar and W2RC – the world’s toughest off‑road events.
James Barclay
JLR Motorsport Managing Director
At the core of Defender OCTA – and retained for the competition vehicles – is its robust D7x body architecture. Based on the lightweight aluminum monocoque construction that forms the basis of every Defender vehicle, it is three times stronger than traditional ‘body‑on‑frame’ designs and provides impressive torsional rigidity.
This inherent robustness, coupled with bespoke geometry and kinematic design of Defender OCTA, made it the obvious choice to underpin Defender’s Dakar program. The specially prepared competition vehicles will share Defender OCTA’s body architecture, transmission and driveline layout – as per the Dakar and W2RC’s regulations – to showcase its capability and durability. Power will be provided by the 4.4‑litre twin turbo V8 engine which comes standard in the Defender OCTA.
An exhaustive Defender competition test and development program is already well under way. It will culminate in test events and a full team launch later this year ahead of Dakar and the FIA World Rally Raid Championship in 2026.