Latest news with #DefenderRally
Zawya
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Zawya
Defender Rally partners with Shackleton as official expedition apparel supplier
Shackleton joins Defender Rally as Official Expedition Apparel Supplier ahead of Defender's entry to the 2026 Dakar Rally and FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) Shackleton – a British expedition and performance apparel company – specialises in expertly engineered extreme weather protection and is synonymous with adventure and innovation Defender will compete in Dakar and the W2RC in the new'Stock' category – for production-based vehicles – which from 2026 will conform to new and heavily revised regulations making it the perfect platform to demonstrate Defender's extreme capability and durability Dubai, UAE – Defender Rally has today announced performance apparel company Shackleton as Official Expedition Apparel Supplier ahead of Defender's entry to the 2026 Dakar Rally and FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Shackleton – a British luxury brand with a unique combination of heritage, exploration and innovation – will equip the Defender team with high performance outerwear and technical layers as it takes on the W2RC in the 'Stock' category for production-based vehicles, the perfect platform to demonstrate Defender's extreme capability and durability. Shackleton's products are tested and proven on expedition in extreme desert, mountain and polar environments, making them perfectly suited to maximise the performance of Defender Rally team members who will be working in unforgiving conditions throughout the W2RC. With desert temperatures often above 40 degrees Celsius in the day and below freezing at night, plus frequent high winds and sandstorms, Shackleton's outerwear will be essential to protect the Defender team. Martin Brooks,Co-Founder & CEO of Shackleton, said: 'The Dakar has rightly been called the Everest of Motorsport. It is amongst sport's most gruelling and demanding competitions and demands super-human levels of skill and endurance. 'We are in the business of equipping adventurers with the technical performance apparel they need to survive and thrive in extreme environments. We're excited to equip the whole Defender Rally team, from the drivers to the mechanics to the support crew, with exactly the right kit to get the job done. 'The range of conditions and operating temperatures in the competition is huge; drivers need to be equipped to compete in 40 degrees of heat as well as camping in the desert at sub-zero temperatures. 'We are looking forward to working closely with the Defender Rally team on a range of exciting innovation and opportunities that stem from this partnership.' Ryan Taylor, Head of Partnerships & Sponsorships at JLR Motorsport, said: 'Announcing Shackleton as Official Expedition Apparel Supplier for Defender Rally is a huge milestone for the team as we move ever-closer toDefender's 2026 Dakar and World Rally Raid Championship entry – the first of a three-year programme. The Defender team – drivers, mechanics, engineers and all support staff – will be working in the toughest of conditions for extended periods of time on all W2RC events, so knowing that they will be protected byShackleton apparel will be a key factor in our drive for success.' For more information, visit:
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Legendary driver Stéphane Peterhansel joins Defender's 2026 Dakar Rally Campaign with D7X-R prototype
Three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs will compete in the Stock category for production-based cars in the 2026 Dakar Rally. Image: Supplied Defender is well on the way in its preparations for entering the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), having finished prototype testing in Morocco with the Defender Dakar D7X-R. They have also signed 14-time Dakar Rally winner Stéphane Peterhansel alongside emerging talent Rokas Baciuška. Peterhansel joined the Defender Rally team in Morocco, completing early testing with the prototype of the Defender Dakar D7X-R as they began preparations for competing at the Dakar Rally in January 2026. Defender have signed 14-time Dakar Rally winner Stéphane Peterhansel alongside emerging talent Rokas Baciuška. Image: Supplied Dakar success Peterhansel, 59, the most successful Dakar Rally driver of all time, has competed in the Dakar Rally 35 times on both bike and car and has won the ultimate off-road race 14 times. In 2026, he will race for Defender in all rounds of the W2RC to help pave the way for Defender's future in the sport as he strives to build on his record win tally. Emerging talent Twenty-five-year-old Lithuanian Baciuška is the first driver in the history of the FIA to win world champion titles in two different categories. In 2022, he made his Dakar Rally debut and finished third in the T4 category. He went on to complete the 2022 W2RC with four podiums, including winning the 2022 Rallye du Maroc, which secured him the overall W2RC championship in T4. Baciuška finished second in the T4 category of the 2023 Dakar Rally and third in the T3 category in 2024. Defender will make its works debut at the Dakar Rally, where three Defender Dakar D7X-Rs will compete in the Stock category for production-based cars. A two-car entry will contest the remaining rounds of the 2026 FIA W2RC. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The Defender Dakar D7X-R shares the same D7x aluminium body architecture, transmission and driveline layout as production Defenders. Image: Supplied
NDTV
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- NDTV
Land Rover Defender Gets Ready For Dakar Rally, Completes Rally-Raid Test
Land Rover is set to make its Dakar Rally debut in January 2026. Before the inaugural race, the brand had signed the fourteen-time Dakar Rally winner Stéphane Peterhansel, who will join the Defender Rally team alongside Rokas Baciuska. Additionally, the team has completed the early test activity with the first prototype of the Defender Dakar D7X-R. The SUV with the legendary name will compete in the 'Stock' category for production-based cars. Furthermore, a two-car entry will compete in the remaining rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship. Diving into the details, the Defender Dakar D7X-R, which will represent the brand in the race, is a purpose-built model based on the production version of the SUV. Following the regulations for the 'Stock' category, it is based on the D7x aluminium body architecture as the production version of the SUV. To top it off, it carries the same transmission and driveline layout. Specifically, the SUV is powered by a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, which is employed on the Defender Octa. Also Read: The BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged V8 engine is tuned to put out 626 hp of power and 750 Nm of torque at the peak of its performance in the Defender Octa. These stats make it the most powerful vehicle to carry the Defender name. The power is transferred to the wheels via an eight-speed transmission with a twin-speed transfer box with high and low-range modes. Taking care of things behind the wheel will be Stéphane Peterhansel. He is regarded as the most successful Dakar Rally driver of all time. The 59‑year‑old has competed in the Dakar Rally 35 times on both bike and car and has won the ultimate epic adventure 14 times. Meanwhile, Rokas Baciuska is one of the first drivers in the history of the FIA to win world championship titles in two different categories.
