Ryan Carmen, Lawrence Michelon, Tom CryerRally ‘Round the Flag
JLR announced the newest Defender model, the D7X-R, engineered for the harsh conditions encountered in off-road rally raid competitions. The fact that it will run in the “stock” category for FIA World Rally Raid Championship races means that you — theoretically — can buy one as a daily driver.
In 2024, Land Rover announced that two teams of Defenders would enter the famous Dakar in 2026, and three teams would compete for the 2026 World Rally Raid. Lo and behold, JLR did exactly that! Stephane Peterhansel, the winning driver in 14 Dakars, will serve as the principal driver of the team. Lithuanian driver Rokas Baciuska will head up the second team. In 2022, his first year in Rally Raid competition, Rokas won the T4 category (Side by Sides) at the Dakar. Third driver Sara Price, a Dakar, Rally des Gazelles and SCORE winner, said she is “insanely impressed with the testing and preparation work with the Defender.”
“New-old Defender”
Land Rover Classic in the UK continues to extend the opportunity in the rest of the world for enthusiasts to purchase a revamped Defender L316. As Top Gear noted, “it’s a new-old soft-top Defender, brimmed with a big, mighty V8 petrol engine and a big, mighty price.”
Our NAS Defenders from 1994–97 with their fabric tops were a special build by Land Rover; very few other markets received a soft-top; add to it the impecunious 5.0 liter V8 (399 hp, 380 ft lbs torque),
8-speed ZF automatic transmission, reworked coil springs, roll bars and Bilstein shocks, larger four pot brakes, and you have a very special vehicle. It comes with a mouth-watering starting price of £234,000 pound sterling. You do the math into dollars, but it’s so very enticing.
ANARC NEWS
As we go to press, the Association of North American Rover Clubs (ANARC) wants to welcome these new member clubs and groups: Lone Star Rovers (TX), Smokey Mountain Rovers (TN), San Antonio Rovers (TX) and the Solihull Sisterhood (online group for female enthusiasts).
ANARC representatives and regional leaders meet regularly on Zoom to provide advice and counsel to the all-volunteer ANARC Board of Directors for their monthly meetings. Discussions are underway to organize the 2026 Off-Road Stewards Training [see p. 26 -ed.], an advanced training for the 2025 participants, and proposals are being considered for 2026–7 partnerships with club rallies.
Upcoming ANARC Partner Events:
August 22-24
OVLR Birthday Party
McDonald’s Corners, ON
Get ready to roll into adventure at the 2025 Ottawa Valley Land Rover’s Birthday Party — where the trails are twisty, the food is tasty and the vibes are top-notch! This annual celebration brings together Land Rover lovers from all over for a weekend packed with off-road fun, shared meals and good old-fashioned camaraderie. Whether you’re a seasoned trail-blazer or just in it for the stories around the campfire, there’s something for everyone at this laid-back, mud-splashed birthday bash.
The festivities begin Friday, August 22, when club members can roll in anytime, stake out a campsite and check in with one of our trusty board members (they’re the ones with clipboards and coffee). Think of the day as a warm-up for your tires and social skills. Take a self-guided off-road tour or simply kick back and get to know your fellow enthusiasts.
Saturday kicks off bright and early with a hearty breakfast, just what you need before hitting the trails. After a short but important driver’s meeting at 9:15 a.m., it’s time to buckle up and hit the dirt. With terrain ranging from scenic to slightly ridiculous, the day’s trail rides will test your skills and keep the laughs coming. When the sun sets and the mud has dried (well, mostly), everyone gathers for a delicious catered supper — a perfect time to swap stories, brag about heroic recoveries and maybe even find out where you left your bumper.
Sunday morning brings another breakfast (yes, and more delicious coffee) and then it’s game time with an RTV competition. This isn’t your average Sunday drive — it’s a chance to test your mettle and show off your precision driving skills in a lighthearted but competitive environment. Once the dust settles, we roll into the Fundraiser Auction. Bring your gently loved Land Rover odds and ends and bid on someone else’s — all for a good cause to keep the club running strong.
As the weekend winds down, attendees like to lend a hand in packing up and leaving the site better than we found it. Because nothing says “Leave No Trace” like actually doing it! Mark your calendars and prepare for a weekend of engines, eggs and excellent company.
Camping is at Paul’s Creek Camping, McDonald’s Corners, ON, K0G 1M0.
[To register, visit www.ovlr.ca or www.ANARC.club ]
September 25-28
Rover Owners Association of Virginia,
Arvonia, VA
To celebrate ROAV’s 50th year, the third ANARC Partner event for 2025 will be the Mid-Atlantic Rally (MAR), Little George Rod and Gun Club at Pearl’s Pond, Arvonia, VA. This location has been the home of the annual Mid-Atlantic Rally for many years.
Our goal is to conduct a well-organized event that everyone — including the landowner — enjoys such that they’re happy to invite us back next year. We are working with limitations in terms of open trails, camping space, numbers of volunteers and impact to the property.
With that in mind, we’re limiting registration to 200 vehicles. We hope to take what we learn from this year and try to expand the event in future years.
Off-roading, off-road skills competitions, an RTV Trials Course, on site camping, meals and craft drinks, kids’ activities, music and surprises to honor the club’s 50th anniversary will highlight the weekend. The event organizers have expanded camping space for this year.
Visit www.roav.org or www.ANARC.club for more information and online registration.
For West Coast enthusiasts:
September 22-26, 2025
Solihull Society Land Rover National Rally,
Moab, UT
Once again, Colorado’s Solihull Society will sponsor the Land Rover National Rally (LRNR) 2025 in Moab, Utah. LRNR 2025 Moab will again meet at the Old Spanish Trails Arena Complex for meetings, staging and overnight camping. (Camping is an additional but modest cost.)
As many of you know, we run on County, BLM and National Park trails in Utah. Access to those trails does not come easy or inexpensively; this makes for a very expensive, complex and time-consuming application process. Remember to give your Solihull Society Executive Team a special thank you! Details and registration links can be found at www.solihullsociety.org
Land Rover enthusiasts everywhere, we’re counting on you for the National Rally 2026. The Solihull Society will partner with ANARC to organize an even better National Rally. Stay tuned
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