LAND ROVER OWNER PARTNERS DEFENDER CHALLENGE

Land Rover Owner International is thrilled to announce that we’ll be the official media partner for the 2014 Defender Challenge by Bowler, which kicks off this weekend.

The Vehicle

The Defender Challenge car is built around a brand new Defender 90 and has been modified to be safe, durable and cost effective to buy, maintain and repair. All cars are built by the Bowler Works team and combine the best of UK engineering and world class components. Please see the attached pdf for a detailed specification, but upgrades include :

A full MSA / FIA certified roll cage, fire extinguisher system, racing seats and harnesses, light weight Bowler wheels, a full Bowler racing suspension system with bespoke springs and heavy duty racing dampers and an engine tune to 175hp that delivers 450Nm of torque.

The number of the entrants to the Defender Challenge will be limited to 15 cars.

Service Package

Entrants will also be able to specify a service package. This will provide access to the Bowler Works mechanics at all of the Defender Challenge events, and logistics support will be provided to deliver and return cars to and from each event, and store them in between. This package will also ensure that cars are safety checked, cleaned and serviced before and after each event, but does not cover damage repairs or parts. Cost is £15 000 for the season.

Competitors are under no obligation to take the Bowler service package – they are welcome to maintain their own car. Each car will be scrutineered at each event so that safety and preparation requirements are adhered to irrespective of who maintains the car. There will also be a visual preparation requirement for the cars at each event to ensure that they are smart and in good condition.

The Costs

The costs for a fully prepped Defender Challenge 90, based on a brand new Defender 90 with air conditioning, will be £50 000 plus VAT and will be supplied exclusively through Bowler Motorsport. Competitors will not be allowed to supply their own donor cars, or to build their own cars.

Entry to the championship has two levels :
· Experienced competitors. Entry to the 7 events, a dedicated service tent for each car at each event, access to the Bowler Works team hospitality facilities, access to the Bowler spares on events (payable), tickets for friends / sponsors / family. Cost is £10 000 for the season.

· Novice competitors. As above, but also a set of race overalls, helmet, a BARS course to gain a National B competition license for both driver and navigator, an introduction to rallying day with Bowler, a driver development day and introduction to navigating day. Cost is £14 000 for the season.

The Championship

The series is made up of traditional forest stage rallies and off road hill rallies.

The Bowler Challenge will be a ‘class’ within existing rally events with total entries of between 80 and 130 cars (including the Defender Challenge cars). These events vary in distance and duration, but all will give the team (driver, navigator, service crew) a great experience of national level motorsport. Completion of the series will gain the driver their National B rally license, and attendance at some of Bowlers overseas races will allow this to be converted into the International license required for events such as the Dakar.
Competitors will also be able to enter additional events in the UK such as Comp Safari’s and hill climbs, and international events such as the Tuareg Rally in Tunisia, with option of Bowler Works support.

The Rounds

The provisional rounds are as follows :

2nd March Mid Wales Stages Newtown, Mid-Wales
12th April Somerset Stages Minehead, Somerset
7th June Dukeries Rally Southwell, Nottinghamshire
19th / 20th July Welsh Hill Rally Walters Arena, Swansea
30th August Woodpecker Stages Ludlow, Shropshire
24th / 25th October Rallye Sunseeker Poole, Dorset
Mid November Borders Hill Rally Dumfries, Scotland

Bowler will have a dedicated service and hospitality area at each of the events and prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd at each events as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the overall championship. Prizes for best prepared car, most improved driver and Spirit of the Championship will also be awarded.