Bowler Gives Land Rover Defender a Thorough Once-Over

Land Rover Defender Gets a Bowler Makeover

Bowler Motors gives Land Rover Defender the rally onceover, and will be a starter in its own championship in 2022.

The Bowler Defender Challenge uses a Land Rover Defender 90 rather modest 300PS Ingenium 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. While Bowler lacks the usual spanking V8, they’ve crammed a full roll cage, modified underbody, raised suspension, rally-spec 18-inch wheels and column-mounted paddle shifters into the brand new Defender.

Bowler deliberately chose Defender 90 for its shorter wheelbase. The rally Defenders are built for their own competition – the Bowler Defender Challenge series – on seven events around the UK in 2022.

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Michael van der Sande, Managing Director, Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations, said:

“The development of the new Bowler Defender Challenge rally car perfectly illustrates the mutual benefits of Bowler joining Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations. Our technical support married to Bowler’s legendary rally expertise has turned the extraordinarily capable Defender into a purposeful competition machine. 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 for a new generation of Bowler and Land Rover customers.”

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What’s in a Bowler Defender Challenge

Bowler Defender Challenge is stripped back to nuts and bolts in order to install a full FIA-standard roll cage. Subframes front and rear are beefed up, with the ride height up by a huge 25mm. This princely height is finished off with a Bowler rally-spec 18-inch wheels.

Other Bowler include: fire protection and electrical cut-offs, additional lighting and vehicle control system. ,competition race seats and a repositioned gear selector.

During the conversion Bowler subtly modify and stiffen the already extraordinarily rigid Defender bodyshell to cope with the extreme conditions of off-road competition.

The doors lose the sill covering section, which then gets full-length, side-to-side underbody protection panels. The front end gets larger openings to give better airflow for cooling and extra race-level lighting/ The new rear roof spoiler gets love with even more lighting.

Bowler Defender Challenge: the competition

The 2022 Challenge is 7 UK-based events, with an agenda yet to be announced. Only12 entries, with each team using identical Bowler-prepared Defenders. The series is open to veteran competitors and those with no competition experience.

Further information on the Bowler Defender Challenge can be found at bowlermotors.com

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