We know the new Land Rover Defender is one very capable offering, but what happens if you want to take it rallying? Bowler Motors will be doing just that and has revealed its new race weapon.

Bowler Motors has a stellar track record when it comes to modifying Land Rover products for high-performance offroad usage. Jaguar Land Rover was so impressed with the efforts over the years, it formed a brand partnership with Bowler Motors in 2012 and landed up acquiring the entire company in 2019 and it now forms part of SVO (Special Vehicle Operations).

The Bowler Defender Challenge uses a Defender 90 with a 221 kW 2.0-litre turbo 4-cylinder petrol engine as a base. Bowler strips the standard car out and fits a full roll cage, reinforced underbody, cranks up the suspension, bolts on offroad 18-inch rally wheels, and an assortment of other goodies.

The suspension is special. Designed in collaboration with Fox, it increases the ride height by 25mm. Being a race car the vehicle features electrical cut-offs, fire protection, race seats, carbon fibre paddle shifters and some ergonomic tweaks like a repositioned gear selector.

The body shell has been stiffened, the doors are trimmed and the front gets a revised bumper to allow for more cooling airflow as well as the fitment of additional headlights.

This very cool-looking Bowler Defender will be taking part in the Bowler Defender Challenge, a 7-race series in the United Kingdom. Price? A cool £99 500 (R2 million at the time of writing), but this price includes the race car, entry into the racing series as well as event support. Land Rover is also offering training, series logistics and more.

Further Reading

Land Rover Defender 90 Specs & Price

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