Pretoria, 21 October 2022: Following a massively profitable first season of thrilling and shut fought competitors, off-road efficiency specialist Bowler has right this moment introduced the Defender Rally Series for 2023.
Defender Rally Series
The Defender has confirmed to be an extremely robust, sturdy and succesful platform from which to develop the collection within the UK and past. Designed for novices and competitors veterans alike, the Defender Rally Series by Bowler consists of 12 groups participating in 9 occasions, together with seven aggressive rounds in similar Defender rally automobiles.
After the primary personal spherical, absolutely supported groups take part in six rounds of public occasions wherein they may develop each the driving and organisational expertise required of open aggressive motorsport.
Building on the recognition of the Tata Elxsi Bowler Defender Challenge for 2022, the Defender Rally Series by Bowler has been particularly designed to supply entrants the prospect to realize rally motorsport expertise and know-how, facilitating development to rally-raid occasions. Bowler can supply the required assist and coaching enabling entrants to attain the proper licensing with a view to compete within the UK and internationally.
The UK Championship gives an inclusive group environment with full technical assist available at each occasion. The skilled presence of the group, with complete on-event spares assist and group hospitality space creates a real paddock throughout the paddock and underlines Bowler’s distinctive proposition and dedication to the game. As a outcome, the camaraderie amongst present groups has been distinctive whereas nonetheless remaining extremely aggressive, with demand persevering with to develop throughout the UK and abroad.
Packages for the 2023 UK Championship will begin at £108,334 (plus VAT). This consists of buy and full possession of a brand-new, absolutely transformed rally automobile, primarily based upon the newest street registered mannequin yr Defender 90 P300, administration by means of 9 occasions, together with seven aggressive championship rounds with full works assist consisting of a devoted group of race technicians, occasion hospitality, skilled steerage, entry to a totally stocked spares container and assist unit, plus coaching. Competition organiser race entry charges are further to the Bowler bundle.
Quite a lot of further assist choices can be found, these embody Arrive and Drive whereby the rally automobile is fully managed by Bowler all through the 2023 UK Championship; automobiles are professionally managed, cleaned, inspected, repaired the place required, saved between competitions and delivered to every spherical able to race. Rounds happen in distant areas across the UK so this feature is especially engaging for time poor or worldwide drivers. Further choices embody licence growth and bespoke coaching delivered by knowledgeable rally driver.
Calum McKechnie, Bowler General Manager, feedback: “The 2022 Defender Bowler Championship has exceeded expectations on all fronts. As we anticipated, the latest generation Defender has proven to be a highly capable and extremely tough rally car which continues to surprise and thrill anyone who has experienced it. It has delivered incredibly close competition amongst the teams whilst still competing aggressively against the competition in the open rounds. Above all, the team camaraderie and relationships formed around the Championship have been a highlight which has attracted many new interested customers.”
The provisional 2023 UK Championship calendar is as follows:
Round Date Venue Discipline
1 4/5 March Walters Arena Comp Safari
2 15 April Rally Nuts Stages Stage Rally (Gravel)
3 June TBD Comp Safari
4 8 July Nicky Grist Stages Rally Stage Rally (Gravel)
5 22/23 Sept Trackrod Rally Stage Rally (Gravel)
6 28 October Cambrian Rally Stage Rally (Gravel)
7 November TBD Hill Rally/Stage Rally (Gravel)
*All dates and occasions are to be confirmed.
“We knew from our initial test programme with a pre-production Defender we had the basis of a rally car that would deliver great poise and stability under race conditions – essential for new drivers but still bringing great capability for experienced drivers. The big test was always going to be whether our 2022 competitors agreed, the answer has been an unequivocal yes! It’s been fantastic to see the cars relative performance against very serious competition in the diverse range of events selected for the Championship.”
Dave Marsh, Bowler Head of Motorsport
The 2023 UK Championship will profit even farther from Bowler’s pedigree and expertise which has helped this yr’s racers hone their expertise. The 2023 season can be much more keenly fought in a automobile that turns heads wherever it goes. Bowler is happy to supply this chance which gives distinctive challenges, adventures and experiences that embody the Bowler group spirit and pedigree.
Base Defender Specification:
- Model Defender 90 P300 SE
- Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo petrol
- Power/torque 221kW/400Nm
- TransmissionEight-speed computerized, four-wheel drive
- 0-100km/h 6.7 seconds
- Top pace 192km/h (restricted when in Bowler Mode)
- Economy10.4l/100km
- CO2 260g/km
- Fuel Capacity 90 litres
- Weight 2,065kg
- Length 4,583mm
- Width 2,105mm
- Height 1,974mm
- Wheelbase 2,587mm
- Turning Circle 11m
The Defender Bowler rally automobile relies on a manufacturing automobile which incorporates driver comfort options similar to InControl Security, Sat Nav, Climate Control and Telematics as a part of the donor spec. Hopefully drivers received’t ever want to make use of reverse cameras however the aircon generally is a blessing in scorching summer time rounds.
Defender Bowler Specification (modifications from base)
Structural Body and Chassis:
- Monocoque bracing – minimises physique motion and helps underbody safety
- Full inner roll cage built-in with physique and linking suspension mounts
- Internal spare wheel mount built-in to roll cage
- Rally-spec gearbox cross member
- Stiffened gearbox mounts
- Strengthened engine mounts
- Braced entrance and rear subframes
- Front suspension turret brace
- Rear turret brace
- Strengthened radiator mounts
- Adapted chassis and subframe mounts
Performance:
- Cooling – revised to fulfill wants of competitors use
- Increased transmission cooling capability
- Bowler Sports exhaust system
- Bowler 18-inch motorsport wheels with elevated power
- All-terrain tyres
- Bespoke suspension design with modified subframes, new springs
- Bespoke Fox dampers
- Race steering wheel
- High stage air consumption
- Front higher wishbone revised to replicate new experience top geometry
Electrical/Systems:
- ECU system integration with race field
- ABS/DSC – rally management modifications
- New built-in wiring harness for brand spanking new parts
- New rally-spec facia
- Navigator management unit for lights/washer/horn
Regulatory:
- High-level rear marker lights
- Door and rear home windows changed with polycarbonate
- Alpine Light changed by aluminium panel
- Race sports activities seats with particular race seat mounts
- Five-point race harness
- Integrated and hand-held hearth suppression
- Electrical cut-off switches – inner and exterior
- Complete removing of all airbag methods
Defender Design:
- Front bumper tailored to take new underbody safety
- Bowler entrance grille with elevated air circulate
- Rear roof spoiler with prolonged profile and built-in further lighting
- Front and rear wing claddings to fulfill new underbody safety
- Wheel arch extensions utilising accent fitment
- Door lowers – safety items on shortened doorways
Rally Function:
- Additional bonnet-mounted windscreen washers – to cope with rally ranges of water splash
- Front driving lights for elevated night time driving illumination
- Rally-spec mudflaps
- Full underbody safety system – 6mm aluminium strengthened design
- New gear shift place – optimised to sports activities seats
- Column-mounted gear shift paddles – distinctive to Bowler
- Rear door guide launch mechanism
- Wheel arch strains – elevated power to fulfill rally necessities
About Bowler
Bowler, based in 1985, relies in Belper, Derbyshire and pioneered the manufacturing of devoted off-road competitors automobiles within the UK.
It has achieved worldwide success in rally raid occasions, having beforehand participated within the Dakar Rally, British Hill Climb Championship and French Baja with their Tomcat, Wildcat & Nemesis fashions, all of which had been primarily based on the heritage Defender 90 and 110.
Bowler gives its clients with competitors racing occasions, to offer them with the driving expertise and technical competitors information essential to undertake worldwide rally raid occasions.
Bowler has change into synonymous with conversions and modifications of Defender fashions, designed to boost energy, dealing with, braking and luxury. These could be tailor-made to swimsuit particular person necessities and needs, together with bespoke engineering necessities.
Since its inception Bowler has had an in depth affiliation with Land Rover, which was formalised with a model partnership in 2012 that led to the creation of the favored Defender Challenge by Bowler rally collection in 2014 – 2016.
The enterprise was acquired by Jaguar Land Rover Group in December 2019 and kinds a part of Special Vehicle Operations.
Bowler’s Motorsport Heritage:
1985 Drew Bowler begins making and promoting aggressive safari and trials automobiles from his dwelling in Derbyshire
1991 Drew Bowler wins ARC National Comp Safari
2000 Bowler first competes in world-famous Dakar Rally in Africa, and races in central Europe
2004 Bowler automobile wins British Hill Rally Championship
2005 Bowler’s largest ever Dakar entry means it’s the second largest manufacturing facility group, and has highest finisher price
2006 Bowler automobiles win each the British Baja National Championship and the French Baja
2012 Bowler agrees formal model partnership with Land Rover throughout sponsorship, advertising and engineering
2014 Defender Challenge launched to organize rivals for Dakar. Bowler strikes into new manufacturing facility
2016 CSP growth begins. Company founder Drew Bowler sadly passes away in November
2018 Bowler automobiles declare first, second and fourth total on Tuareg Rallye
2019 Jaguar Land Rover acquires Bowler
2020 Bowler granted licence by Jaguar Land Rover to supply road-biased Defender Station Wagon – codenamed CSP 575
Bowler is granted use of the Defender title beneath licence from Jaguar Land Rover.
For extra info, please go to www.bowlermotors.com
For additional info on entry to the 2023 Defender Rally Series by Bowler, please contact data@bowlermotorsport.com or name +44 (0)1773 824111
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