Standing in the Dakar bivouac, JLR Motorsport director James Barclay looks out across the mountains surrounding Bisha. In 12 months, he’ll be back in the shadow of the same terrain overseeing a three-car Defender entry.
He knows what’s coming his way through 2025. He knows he has a mountain to climb. And it’s an ascent bigger than anything this side of the Arabian Peninsula.
“I’ve called Dakar the Everest of motorsport,” he said.
He’s not wrong. Admittedly, Defender’s 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship entry is coming in the new-for-2026 Stock category, but a ground-up build to take on the world’s toughest off-road events remains a significant ask.
Barclay continued: “Being here today to once again see the prologue stage kick-off reinforces the challenge we face.
“It will be an incredible adventure from both human and engineering perspectives, and the team are already working hard to develop Defender within the new ‘Stock’ FIA W2RC rules for 2026 that will make for such a competitive category.
“We along with the FIA, ASO and other manufacturers have helped shape these new regulations, which represent an exciting new chapter for the Dakar, W2RC and Rally Raid in general.”
As outlined in November, Defender will undertake a three-year W2RC campaign, running three cars on each Dakar and a two-car entry on the other rounds of the off-road series. Development of the Dakar-bound Defender has already begun, with testing expected to start in the fall.
While numbers won’t be on the doors of the world’s most recognizable off-road cars until next year, Defender still has a sizeable presence in Saudi Arabia this month, via the supply of 20 cars for the use of race officials, media and VIPs.
Managing director of Defender Mark Cameron explained the firm’s presence: “Defender is already here showcasing its capability and durability through our official car partnership, but to know that in 12 months we’ll be back with a three-car Defender works team entry at the beginning of a full FIA World Rally Raid Championship campaign is incredibly exciting.
“We have chosen to compete in the ‘Stock’ category to showcase the toughness and dependability of the production Defender. There’s much work to do over the next 12 months, but with Defender works programme testing and development well under way, the team are already embracing the ultimate motorsport adventure that lays ahead from 2026.”
It’s time to climb the mountain.
