JLR is within the course of of remodeling its Defender nameplate right into a standalone model centered on journey autos, and as a part of the transformation, the automaker will enter a Defender manufacturing facility workforce within the grueling Dakar Rally in 2026.
The Dakar program might be run by JLR motorsports boss James Barclay, who at the moment oversees Jaguar’s Formulation E program.
Extra particulars might be introduced on the 2025 Dakar Rally, which runs in Saudi Arabia in early January, however in a press release launched on Monday, Barclay mentioned work on the Dakar program had already begun.
The newest Defender is already one of the vital succesful off-roaders at the moment on sale, particularly within the extra-rugged Defender Octa guise unveiled earlier this yr. Nevertheless, JLR is more likely to run a bespoke rally raid-style automobile sharing a design and presumably some know-how with the manufacturing Defender.
JLR to subject Defender manufacturing facility workforce in 2025 Dakar Rally
Audi, which received the 2024 Dakar Rally, has competed in recent times with a bespoke off-roader utilizing a novel collection plug-in hybrid powertrain. Ford can also be gearing as much as enter the 2025 Dakar Rally, utilizing its personal bespoke off-roader, dubbed the Raptor T1+. The T1+ within the title is a nod to the Dakar Rally’s T1 class. The category is open to non-production autos that meet FIA technical and security requirements, and is more likely to be the place JLR competes.
JLR mentioned 2023 it wished to make Defender a standalone model alongside new Vary Rover and Discovery manufacturers, in addition to the prevailing Jaguar model. As for the unique Land Rover model, JLR confirmed it wouldn’t disappear altogether, however failed to supply additional particulars.
