More details about the Defender factory entry are to come soon, but the 47th version of the pinnacle event in rally is set to kick off on January 3, 2025. Road & Track has reached out to Jaguar Land Rover North America for additional details about the Defender rally car and its Dakar partnership; we'll update this story if we gear back.

The British marque has announced that a Defender will compete in the 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally. The move is part of a multi-year partnership between the automaker and the notoriously difficult race that will run through at least 2028. First Drive: This New Open-Top SUV Is a 760 HP Beast That Blends Vintage Vibes With Modern Handling

The 2024 Dakar Rally event was won by Audi in its third attempt with the RS Q e-tron. The car shared virtually nothing with Audi’s all-electric e-tron road car range and we expect Land Rover’s entry in 2026 will also be fairly unrecognisable from the Defender road car.

Moreover, Land Rover will be the official Dakar car partner from 2025, supplying a fleet of support vehicles for officials and VIP media

Before 2026 comes 2025, and in 2025 Land Rover will be the ‘official car partner’ of the Dakar Rally, which means it’ll provide a fleet of Defenders to support the event. They’ll have jobs like transporting racers and other VIPs around, while six Defenders will be specially modified to “test routes for future Dakar events.”

The legendary Defender brand is poised to make a significant impact in the world of motorsport by becoming the official car partner of the renowned Dakar

Choosing to take on the Dakar Rally is not for drivers or manufacturers who are faint of heart. Dakar is challenging for many reasons, not the least of which is its 4901 miles of loose, sandy surface that cars have to conquer — but the folks at Land Rover are up for the challenge.