Defender reveals challenger for 2026 Dakar Rally entry

Defender has announced the model with which it will compete in the upcoming 2026 Dakar Rally in the Stock category.

The British manufacturer announced at the start of this month that it will enter the Dakar next year, although it remained to be known with which model it would do so.

On Monday, Defender revealed its OCTA model as the vehicle with which it will lay the foundations of its participation in the event, as well as in the FIA Rally-Raid World Championship.

The vehicle includes a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine and will maintain the original architectural design in its bodywork, transmission and D7x driveline.

The team will conduct a series of testing and development programmes throughout the year, and its official unveiling will take place later in the year.

“Taking on the most demanding rally‑raid event in the world represents the ultimate test of our most extreme Defender to date,” said Mark Cameron, Defender’s managing director.

“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.”

“Taking on the most demanding rally-raid event in the world represents the ultimate test of our most extreme Defender to date,” added James Barclay, managing director of JLR Motorsport and team principal of Jaguar’s Formula E team.

“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.”

Land Rover’s Defender brand was already the official vehicle partner for Dakar this year and supplied 20 SUVs to ferry race officials and VIPs. A further six modified Recee vehicles will join the fleet to help organise ASO plan the route for the 2026, ’27 and ’28 editions of the Dakar.