Land Rover has been busy. In the past 12 months, the British brand launched its newest, most capable off-road vehicle yet, the Defender Octa. It then worked with the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) to certify the Octa for the World Rally-Raid Championship series. Land Rover has also become the official car partner of the Dakar Rally, returned to factory-sponsored competition in said rally for the first time in over 40 years, and proceeded to win its class. Calling this period “the most impressive year in Land Rover’s history” might sound like hyperbole, but it’s pretty accurate. The first Dakar Rally took place in 1979, and Land Rover won it with a nearly showroom-stock Range Rover Classic. The brand won again in 1981, then went into a Dakar Rally support role, supplying vehicles capable of transporting race crews, media, and medical personnel along the same route used by the race vehicles. Thankfully, for Land Rover..
