You Could Race in Land Rover's Defender Rally Series

Land Rover has just announced that it is accepting applications for the third Defender Rally Series in the United Kingdom. The one-make series is centered around the Defender 90, which have been rally-prepped by the off-road fanatics at Bowler. The arrive-and-drive series will commence in March 2024, and will feature seven races across the U.K.

Fans of off-road racing are surely familiar with the team at Bowler, which has been building motorsports-focused Land Rovers since 1985. The team came under the purview of JLR back in 2019, with the Defender Rally Series by Bowler kicking off in 2022. The series is centered around the Defender P300 SE, which comes equipped with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. Output is rated at 295 hp 295 lb-ft of torque. The rally preparations include a suite of additional chassis bracing, as well as a FIA-certified cage. Bowler also fits the trucks with their bespoke suspension package, which includes upgraded springs and unique Fox dampers. Bowler also modifies the stock subframes, as well as upper wishbones to make use of the reworked ride height geometry. Other tweaks include an upsized fuel tank, improved cooling for the engine and gearbox, a motorsports ECU and traction control system, and a Bowler sport exhaust. All of the trucks will ride on 18-inch racing wheels, which come wrapped in a BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber.

The seven-race series will feature both hill and gravel rally stages throughout the U.K., including stops in England, Scotland, and Wales. Customers will also have the opportunity to participate in a select number of races outside of the U.K., though details remain scarce at this time. The whole series actually seems like a fairly good deal, with the entry price listed at just around $150,000. That investment includes the race-prepped SUV, entry into all seven races, as well as training and support from Land Rover and Bowler throughout. Customers even have the option of selecting the full-service package, which sees the brand clean, service, repair, and transport your racer to each event on your behalf. There are only 16 slots in the series every year, with six already spoken for as of September 1. If you are interested in going racing in the U.K. this year, you can contact Bowler by way of this site.

You Might Also Like

• You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox

• Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners

• The Man Who Signs Every Car