Castrol partners with Defender Rally
Castrol are proud to partner with Defender Rally to take on the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (WRC) – pushing innovation, endurance, and performance in the world's toughest motorsport challenge.
Castrol joins Defender Rally for the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship
Castrol is proud to join forces with Defender Rally to embark on a bold, new chapter in JLR Motorsport's story: The 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (WRC).
We will support Defender Rally as the team prepares to compete in the 'Stock' category of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (WRC), beginning with the Dakar Rally in January.
Castrol brings over 30 years of high-performance fluid expertise - proven through our successful collaboration with JLR and Jaguar TCS Racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Together, we'll push boundaries, accelerate innovation, and return with insights that will shape the future of Defender Rally and JLR Motorsport.
Castrol becomes Official Partner for Defender Rally
The Defender Dakar D7X‑R will be equipped with Castrol lubricants and greases, ensuring ultimate performance during the five challenging events, including the demanding Dakar Rally.
The 'Everest' of motorsport
The W2RC calendar begins with the iconic Dakar Rally. Spanning over thousands of kilometres of desert, dunes, and rock. Testing the endurance potential of both machine and human.
Defender's participation in the W2RC from 2026 reinforces its reputation for rugged capability. The production-based race car is designed to tackle any obstacle in its path. Our advanced products are first-fill in production Defenders, and Castrol will supply all lubricants and greases for the Defender Dakar D7X-R - in a partnership focused on driving technical innovation.
Engineered for the extreme
The new Defender Dakar D7X-R is based on the production model's lightweight aluminium monocoque – purpose-engineered to mirror the tough body architecture of the D7x. Powered by a 4.4 L twin-turbo V8 derived from the Defender OCTA, the vehicle has undergone rigorous testing across relentless Saharan terrain.
Legendary Dakar 14x champion Stéphane Peterhansel, and rising talent Rokas Baciuska, will lead the charge for Defender Rally in W2RC into unchartered territory where limits are redefined.
