I was just reading on the upcoming Dakar Rally beginning on January 3, 2025. I came across this article detailing JLR's role in providing Rally Administrative Vehicles for 2025. Looks like they've entered into a multi-year contract with Dakar to fulfill this requirement and intend on racing in 2026. Has anyone found any further information on this? Have you guys seen vehicle pictures or specs? Is this what Bowler Motorsports has been involved with for the past several months? I've posted the link below:

https://media.landrover.com/en-us/ne...competing-2026

Thanks!
Piper266
2025 Defender 110

 

Rookie error. There is already a very recent thread about this: https://landroverforums.com/forum/20...cement-124094/

 

Because the rally begins in two days, I'm looking for current, relevant information on vehicle details, specifications, and performance capabilities. Thanks.

 

JLR hasn’t released anything yet regarding the competition trucks. They aren’t competing in the rally this year, but they will next year and details on the competition trucks will be announced closer to the date. If I had to take an educated guess, the Defender support vehicles they are using are most likely stock trucks fitted out with OEM accessories.

 

Ok

 

Here's an updated article with some good details on what we can expect out of the Defender in 2026. For starters, the Defender will be competing in the Stock devision rather than Ultimate. Good read for sure.

https://www.motorsport.com/dakar/new...026-/10686128/

 

Glad to hear they they’re running in the stock class. Tbh, that’s what I was expecting them to do. I didn’t think they’d go on the full ultimate class like VW did with their “Touareg” that they entered. It was a full on rally-raid racer with Touareg decals.

Hopefully they’ll do well in their class!

 

Great to hear they entered the production vehicle class - great decision in my opinion. Does anybody have any pictures of the Defender as a supporting vehicle? All I can find is AI renditions of what the 2026 car will be

 

Agreed. Glad they stayed with the production class as this is a great way to test current production vehicles and boost product exposure and sales. I found this picture online while following some of the 2025 Dakar rally updates. Maybe some of you specialists can fill me in. Could this be one of the support vehicles? It has "Bowler Group" on the vehicle's number. Your thoughts?

 

That's one of the D90 rally cars that is used in their European rally series. Think of it like the Mazda MX-5 Cup but instead of track driving, is is rally driving. Based on a P300 Defender 90, it is modified by Bowler and turned into a rally car.

https://media.landrover.com/en-us/ne...ive-season-yet