Defender will be the official automotive partner of the Dakar Rally starting in 2025, as part of a multi-year partnership with the world’s toughest rally raid event.
From 2026, the Defender team will compete in the most extreme endurance race, introducing the iconic 4x4 brand for the first time as a participant with an official manufacturer's squad.
The participation with an official team will demonstrate Defender's exceptional durability and capability in the most challenging race on the planet.
Under the agreement, through 2028, Defender will provide support vehicles for Dakar Rally officials and VIP media, as well as six specialized reconnaissance vehicles.
The British adventure brand Defender will become the official automotive partner of the Dakar Rally from 2025, and from 2026, it will enter a manufacturer’s team in what is considered the world's most difficult rally raid event.
The partnership kicks off with the Dakar Rally 2025 (January 3–17) and will run until 2028, providing a significant fleet of Defender vehicles to support the event, intended for the transport of officials and VIP media throughout the race. In addition, Defender will provide six specialized reconnaissance vehicles for the Dakar Rally organizers to test future routes.
Alongside its role as the official automotive partner from 2025, Defender confirms its commitment to participate in 2026 with a manufacturer's team. By entering the world’s most challenging off-road race, the British adventure brand will prove its extreme capabilities and endurance. More details about the racing program will be announced during the Dakar Rally 2025.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director of Defender, said: "Adventure is in the very DNA of Defender, which is why we are inspired to partner with Dakar – the ultimate adventure in motorsport, where participants face the impossible.
Our partnership begins in 2025, when Defender will showcase its capability and durability as the official vehicle of the event, but we are already looking to the future and our participation with a manufacturer's team in 2026. The official Defender Dakar team will be led by James Barclay, Managing Director of JLR Motorsport, and I am sure James and his team are inspired by the challenge ahead."
James Barclay, Managing Director of JLR Motorsport, said: "Anyone who loves motorsport is captivated by Dakar. It is the Everest of automotive racing – an event where success depends as much on human determination in the most pivotal moments as it does on the vehicle's capabilities and engineering solutions. Entering the most capable and iconic 4x4 into the world's most legendary rally raid event is a perfect match.
Our first entry into Dakar with a manufacturer-backed team is the beginning of an adventure. We are aware of how much we have to learn and achieve before we stand at the start in 2026, but we are ready for the challenge. We will share more details about this exciting program during the Dakar Rally in 2025."
David Castera, Dakar Director, said: "We are delighted to welcome Defender as the new official automotive partner of Dakar. This is an emblematic brand, known on every continent, which shares our passion for adventure, performance, and innovation. We are also thrilled that Defender will accompany us throughout the year, providing vehicles for organizational teams and route reconnaissance. Their reliability and toughness will help us improve our daily efficiency. Furthermore, from 2026, Defender will join the competition as an official team. Together, we will shine the spotlight on Dakar on the international stage and offer a unique experience for everyone."
In 2025, the fleet of Defender vehicles will follow the competitors of the Dakar Rally 2025 in the 47th edition of the event and the 6th to be held in Saudi Arabia, on a track stretching from Bisha to Shubaytah. The epic route includes a three-day challenge through the Empty Quarter (Rub' al Khali) desert, where the race will reach its finale.