The Bowler Defender Challenge will be open to professional and amateur drivers, assuming they first purchase the rally-oriented SUV.
Bowler Motors, a British off-road performance expert specializing in Land Rover cars founded in 1985 but bought by Jaguar Land Rover in 2019, developed a Defender 90 purposefully for its own race competition. Dubbed as the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge, this single-model rally series will cover seven rounds in the UK, and entries are limited to just 12 SUVs.
Based on the two-door Defender 90 with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, the Bowler Defender rally SUV delivers 296 hp and comes with several additional features for increased off-road abilities. Notably, the SUV packs a full roll cage, a modified body shell, a lifted suspension system, and braced front and rear subframes.
Of course, the cabin is completely stripped out and meets all FIA standards thanks to the fire suppression system, electrical cut-offs, racing seats with homologated safety harnesses. Furthermore, there are rally-specific 18-inch wheels, column-mounted paddle shifters, racing lights, and a rear spoiler.
“The development of the new Bowler Defender Challenge rally car perfectly illustrates the mutual benefits of Bowler joining Jaguar Land Rover. Our technical support married to Bowler’s legendary rally expertise has turned the extraordinarily capable Defender into a purposeful competition machine,” stated Michael Van Der Sande, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations.
“The Bowler Defender Challenge will prove the Defender’s durability through some of the toughest conditions while providing an exciting and accessible entry point into all-terrain motorsport,” he added.
Bowler will launch only 12 identical rally series Defenders. The twelve participants can be racing champions, amateurs, or beginners—doesn’t matter, as long as they first purchase one of the limited edition Defenders—and they don’t come cheap. Each package costs £99,500 (approximately $138,000) and includes the Bowler Manufacturing customized Defender rally car, an entry pass for the Bowler Challenge, and support for the entire seven rounds-long challenge.
More details on Bowler’s website.
Gallery
