‘Land Rover Defender OCTA’ To Race In 2026 Dakar Rally And FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship

Race-prepped Land Rover Defender OCTA will compete in 2026 Dakar and FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC).

Two race‑spec Defenders to compete in W2RC under the ‘Stock’ category for production‑based vehicles, and three for Dakar Rally.

The specially prepared competition vehicles are based on the Defender OCTA – the fastest and most capable Defender ever made.

They will share Land Rover Defender OCTA’s tough underpinnings and its 4.4‑litre twin turbo V8 powertrain.

British marque, Land Rover, has officially announced that from 2026, competition‑spec Defenders will enter Dakar and the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC) – the world’s toughest off‑road events.

According to Land Rover, two competition‑spec Defenders will compete in the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship (W2RC) under the ‘Stock’ category for production‑based vehicles, and three for the Dakar Rally, from 2026.

The specially prepared competition vehicles will be based on the Defender OCTA – the fastest and most capable Defender ever made. They will share Defender OCTA’s tough underpinnings and its 4.4‑litre twin turbo V8 powertrain.

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Land Rover notes that selecting high-performance Defender OCTA as the basis for the British adventure brand’s rally‑raid programme was a natural choice.

“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 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,”

Defender will not compete in this year’s 2025 Dakar, but a fleet of 20 Defenders will be used to transport race officials and VIP media during the event. Another six highly specialised Defender recce vehicles will be used by Dakar Rally organisers to plan the routes for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 events.

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