January was a rollercoaster for the three teams from Land Rover who took part in the legendary Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. 

The iconic automaker entered three rally teams, each behind the wheel of a specially modified version of its Defender OCTA model. The Defender Dakar D7X-R models have been adjusted to enable them to handle the rigors of rally racing. 

For the stage coming up in Portugal in March, the most crucial modifications to the vehicles have been updated suspension, a wider track and increased ride height. 

This is because the Portuguese rally route is expected to be rockier and narrower, putting both the drivers and their vehicles through new challenges. The team consisting of Rokas Baciuška and Oriol Vidal are looking to maintain their top spot in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).

Baciuška revealed his aim is to bring “the same consistency” into this next five-day stage, which will see teams across various classes race from Grândola to Loulé. 

Having the finish line in Loulé pushes the end of the European stage of the W2RC further south from the starting line than ever before. 

Of course, the teams aren’t making a straight dash between the two locations. The course will take them across the border into Spain before looping them back into Portugal and down to the coast. 

All eyes will be on the Land Rover teams given how well they performed at Dakar. For Land Rover enthusiasts, it’s another opportunity to see how the 4.4-litre, twin-turbo Land Rover V8 engine performs under gruelling conditions. 

Seeing the Land Rover Defenders traversing Europe could inspire you to plan some adventures later this year in your own Land Rover. If you’re going to be heading off the beaten track, make sure you’ve carried out the appropriate maintenance before you go.