There’s nothing stately a couple of Defender Bowler.

It’s not one thing King Charles goes to strap himself into for a quick tour all the way down to the stables at Frogmore Home. However that doesn’t imply driving considered one of these Bowler-built dust racers shouldn’t be in your bucket checklist.  

My earliest introduction to this madcap off-road outfit was at a Land Rover occasion at Nice Packington within the UK in 2013, the place Bowler was displaying just a few of its excessive machines, together with the massively highly effective Vary Rover Sport-based EXR S monster together with a few legit Dakar contenders. 

Following a very good previous chinwag with Bowler founder Drew Bowler, I used to be assured of a steer or a minimum of a passenger journey after watching Tiff Needell have a lot enjoyable on the field, however as a substitute, needed to accept a deep river crossing in an amphibious Defender. Oh sure, again then, Land Rover engineers have been simply as bonkers because the Bowler clan.

These outdoors the hardcore off-road fraternity may additionally be shocked to be taught that Bowler has been round for quite a lot of a long time. Initially, modifying Land Rover Defenders for critical off-road competitors earlier than turning into a wholly-owned subsidiary of Jaguar Land Rover in 2019.

Today it’s nonetheless within the off-road racing enterprise however with a devoted concentrate on full turnkey Defender 90 rally vehicles for purchasers itching to compete within the one-make, ‘Land Rover Defender Rally Sequence’. 

The sequence races all through the UK and Europe utilizing the latest-generation Defender 90 P300 as the bottom automotive, earlier than the Bowler boys get to work and rework it right into a full-blown rally contender for just about anybody with a aggressive edge and a lazy £108,334 ($210,000) plus VAT of their pocket.  

And by no means thoughts the actual fact there’s solely a four-pot petrol engine below the bonnet, it’s greater than sufficient to scare the bejesus out of you the primary time you give it a crack round Bowler’s personal mixed-surface proving circuit, full with jumps and a compulsory four-wheel drift round a good proper hander on a small tarmac part. 

However that’s not the half of it. Whereas Bowler is fast to sing the praises of the manufacturing sequence Defender, particularly its 2.0-litre Ingenium motor and ZF eight-speed auto gearbox which stays largely inventory, there’s additionally a big variety of modifications required for critical off-road competitors on the continent. 

Working off the spec sheet, I depend a minimum of 49 particular person enhancements that Bowler makes on its Defender 90 construct throughout each aspect of the automobile, remembering the stock-standard Defender is already mighty succesful off the crushed monitor. 

There’s a collection of physique safety gadgets on the Bowler, together with entrance bumper designed to take underbody safety. There’s a Bowler entrance grille too, with elevated air move, and an prolonged rear roof spoiler. 

Apparently, there’s no apparent financial institution of driving lights. As an alternative, simply two small rectangular clusters mounted low into both sides of the strengthened grille. Extra critical racers can possibility Lazer Linear 18 Elite lights for extra night-driving confidence.

The Dakar-grade bonnet-mounted windscreen washers and the not-so-obvious composite wheel arch liners – designed to face up to the rigours of rallying – are simply two of many Bowler enhancements it does on the Defender.

There’s additionally some critical wanting metallic door lowers too. They’re partially drilled and able to withstanding correct hardcore bush bashings on the more difficult rally levels.

There’s extra bracing and stiffened mounts all around the Bowler, from the rally-spec gearbox crossmember and stronger mounts to bespoke suspension design with Fox dampers, modified subframes, springs and distinctive turrets for elevated stiffness.

The Bowler/Fox suspension collaboration is one other important little bit of rally package and means a 25 per cent improve in journey peak to deal with the extra aggressive obstacles. In reality, wanting below the automotive reveals intensive underbody safety, full with a 6mm aluminium bolstered design.

Efficiency smart there are 9 such modifications on the Defender, from additional cooling through a whole redesign for elevated airflow to the primary radiator, in addition to bespoke Fox dampers and revised entrance higher wishbone to deal with new journey peak geometry.

It’s the identical story with {the electrical} techniques; Tailored physique management unit, ECU system integration with race field, together with recalibrated ABS/DSC with rally management modifications and a brand new wiring harness for added parts.

The wheels on the Bowler are 20-30 per cent stronger than the usual ones, however no much less heavier. In reality, the identical wheels are already transitioning onto highway vehicles for these Defender homeowners who intend to make off-road shenanigans extra of a behavior. 

Likewise the braking and suspension techniques. Homeowners of ordinary Defenders are already asking for Bowler upgrades, which have been tried and examined all through the rally sequence itself. It acts as a stable test-bed and one which Bowler is eager to develop with a wider  menu providing.

How a lot does the Land Rover Defender Bowler value?

Base value excluding VAT within the UK is £108,334 ($210,000) able to race.

It’s not so much in contrast with the likes of WRC or just about another major-league GT vehicles, however considerably greater than $90,150 for the road-going Defender 90 P300 S.

Extra critical patrons intent on correctly competing within the rally sequence will need the whole, ready-to-race bundle; incorporating full-season entry throughout the whole calendar, your individual race engineer, race technician, electrician, spare elements together with entry to the cell workshop and catering. That’s going to value you round £141,000 ($274,000) all up. 

However for these with restricted spare time and even deeper pockets, there’s at all times the arrive-and-drive route, too. Simply roll up, race, and drive residence. It’s that simple and whereas we don’t have a value for it, count on to pay for the privilege.

What’s the Land Rover Defender Bowler like on the within?

Regardless of the stripped-out cockpit there’s nonetheless proof of Bowler’s road-going origins with options just like the Pivi Professional touchscreen and a good-size chunk of the centre console incorporating the marginally repositioned shifter for higher ergonomics. 

You’ll additionally discover the identical digital driver’s show as in the usual Defender in addition to single paddle-shifter. Designed by Bowler, it really works as a push-pull system – very similar to these I’ve tried in Citroen’s R3 and R5 rally vehicles – solely significantly simpler to make use of.  

In any other case, it’s a usually spartan atmosphere you may count on of a legit rally-spec off-roader with solely the naked necessities. Nevertheless, I notice the passenger door playing cards are nonetheless just about in-tact, together with the usual speaker grilles of all issues. 

It’s all a part of the bundle that makes the Bowler really feel so acquainted and dare I say comfy, regardless of its highly-specialised construct. 

There’s a full-blown inside roll cage that’s extra like a veritable spider net of tubing and built-in with each physique and linking suspension mounts. Little question it’s bullet-proof secure given the extent of abuse this factor is bound to cop at every occasion.

Nonetheless, there’s a good stage of dexterity required to hoist your self up into the full-spec Cobra racing buckets, full with six-point harness.

They’re not on rails both, so if you might want to transfer the driving force’s seat right into a extra appropriate slot on your dimension body, it’s a little bit of a rigmarole. In the long run, the crew simply shoved just a few additional cushions behind my again to get me nearer to the pedal field. Sorted then.

Other than the touchscreen there’s additionally a pair Terra Journey bins forward of the co-driver, whereas the driving force will get a button-free, small diameter Alcantara steering wheel by OMP – full with a centre marker in yellow. 

Round again the boot is all however consumed by the 18-inch BF Goodrich-shod spare with compulsory cordless rattle gun hooked up together with all the required ancillaries required for competitors.  

Furthermore, all of the glass (Alpine, doorways and rear window) has been changed with safer and lighter polycarbonate home windows, apart from the windscreen which stays shatter-proof glass. 

What’s below the bonnet?

The Bowler Defender makes use of the inventory 2.0-litre Ingenium turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine from the Defender 90 P300 manufacturing automotive.

Within the road-going guise it makes 220kW of energy at 5500rpm and 400Nm of torque from 1500rpm-4500rpm, and comparatively unchanged within the Bowler apart from improved cooling and bespoke ECU tune in its rally-spec state.

That mentioned, Bowler claims it cowl off the 0-100km/h in round 6.8 seconds (7.1s for the Defender 90 P300), and if our short-stage testing is something to go by, it feels each bit as fast because the numbers counsel. High pace is round 191km/h.

How does the Land Rover Defender Bowler drive?

As hardcore because the Bowler Defender is, it’s not an intimidating automobile, and that’s totally by design in order that drivers coming into the rallying for the primary time gained’t be overwhelmed. 

I’ve pushed only some rally vehicles through the years, however not for some time, so strapping in behind the wheel figuring out there’s not a whopping-big V8 below the bonnet which will or might not get you into an entire lot of hassle is reassuring, to say the least. 

It’s additionally good to see the identical Begin/Cease button you discover within the highway model. It fires up instantly and with out fuss however with a unique sort of idle. It sounds stronger – unshackled in case you like – because of Bowler’s personal sports activities exhaust system. 

Nonetheless, it’s the identical brakes, engine, gearbox and suspension geometry because the highway automotive apart from a bespoke Fox shocks setup and spring steadiness that enables the Bowler to leap and soak up larger landings.

I’d favor to be nearer to the steering wheel and name for an additional cushion to get fractionally nearer to it and the pedal set. There’s not an entire lot of time and some drivers to get via, so I accept the established order and get transferring round what’s difficult off-road circuit.

And identical to the road-going Defender, there’s no convoluted launch sequence; simply seize the shifter and put it into drive and off you go.

My co-driver is none apart from Bowler’s head of engineering, Adrian Gregory – who clearly is aware of this relatively technical check circuit just like the again of his hand – so the correct, left and really tight proper with drift directions are effectively obtained, notably given the current deluge. 

The steering is lighter than anticipated however on the identical time there’s additionally a great deal of granular suggestions via the OMP tiller, too. It’s genuinely simple to punt and by no means confronting.

That mentioned, the four-pot Bowler isn’t any Friday-night humorous automotive, a minimum of not out of the blocks, but it surely pulls from very low within the rev vary and doesn’t appear to let up.

It additionally dishes out the ability in a largely linear style and the throttle is acutely responsive – permitting for smaller mid-corner or hill-ascending changes to be made at pace. 

You possibly can see why Bowler prefers the usual four-pot turbo to the six or eight-cylinder motors. There’s greater than sufficient tempo to overcome any and all terrain, and when you’ll seemingly have the correct pedal pushed flat a lot of the time, it by no means feels overworked in my opinion. Completely tractable wherever all through the rev vary.

For an off-roader that also ideas the scales at greater than 2150kg, the Bowler Defender can also be totally chuckable – even when going off-piste and short-cutting via the timber. From behind the wheel it drives like a a lot lighter automobile with an uncanny diploma of agility. 

The Bowler is noticeably composed over every kind of terrain and physique management in tight turns is spectacular. Fast modifications of route below late braking are not any concern and the brake really feel is superb. 

On the identical time journey compliance over any and all method of surfaces and obstacles is solely excellent. If something it’s a standout function.

It’s attention-grabbing – the dampers are very compliant early on, however they turn out to be stiffer and stiffer via the journey. Not unhealthy for single-shock system with hydraulic bump stoppers on the rear. 

The speeds at which you’ll hit a ridge or decent-size bump is extraordinary. In reality, you simply gained’t consider you’ll make it again all the way down to terra firma in a single piece. However in the long run, it’s a bit of cake and also you simply hold it pinned subsequent time round. 

The eight-speed auto is bulletproof. Clean and sturdy with out being lighting fast, however with properly calibrated gear ratios. Auto mode is the way in which to go till you get used to the one paddle with push/pull. Subsequent time, maybe. 

The Defender Bowler is totally succesful, but it surely’s additionally a rally automotive your CFO would really feel comfy having a crack in. 

On a brief part of tarmac, Adrian is encouraging a right-hand drift, and to my shock, its lifeless simple to slip a Defender – a minimum of a Bowler Defender. 

What do you get?

The Bowler conversion encompasses an intensive variety of specialised componentry and techniques throughout six key areas.

Structural physique and chassis

• Monocoque bracing
• Full inside roll cage built-in with physique and linking suspension mounts
• Inside spare wheel mount built-in to roll cage
• Restoration factors
• Rally-spec gearbox cross member with stiffened mounts
• Strengthened engine mounts
• Braced entrance and rear subframes
• Entrance suspension and rear turret brace
• Strengthened radiator mounts
• Tailored chassis and subframe mounts
• Rally jacking factors (Pin Kind)

Efficiency

• Cooling – auxiliary radiators eliminated and system designed to extend airflow to fundamental radiator
• Elevated transmission cooling capability
• Bowler 18-inch wheels with elevated energy
• All-terrain tyres
• Bespoke suspension design with modified subframes, new springs and distinctive turrets for elevated stiffness 
• Bespoke Fox dampers
• Race steering wheel
• Excessive stage air consumption
• Entrance higher wishbone revised for elevated journey peak geometry

Electrical/Techniques

• ECU system integration with race field
• ABS/DSC – rally management modifications 
• New built-in wiring harness for extra parts
• New rally-spec facia
• Further navigator controls for lights/washer/horn
• Rally system integration with JLR security techniques
• Tailored physique management unit

Regulatory

• Excessive-level rear marker lights
• Alpine, door and rear home windows changed with Polycarbonate
• Race sports activities seats with particular race seat mounts
• 6-point race harness 
• Built-in and hand-held hearth suppression system
• Electrical cut-off switches – inside and exterior
• Full elimination of all airbag techniques

Design

• Entrance bumper tailored to take new underbody safety
• Bowler entrance grille with elevated air move
• Rear roof spoiler with prolonged profile and built-in extra reversing lights
• Entrance and rear wing shields to satisfy new underbody safety
• Wheel arch extensions utilising accent fitment
• Door lowers – safety items on shortened doorways
• Bowler Workforce Livery

Rally operate and safety

• Further bonnet-mounted windscreen washers
• Entrance driving lights for elevated night-driving illumination (Lazer Linear 18 Elite are optionally available)
• Rally-spec mudflaps
• Full underbody safety system with 6mm aluminium bolstered design
• Column-mounted paddle gear shift
• Rear-door handbook launch mechanism
• Composite wheel arch liners – elevated energy
• Designed for future functionality upgrades

How a lot does the Land Rover Defender Bowler value to run?

Operating prices will range from competitor to competitor and can rely on what number of races are campaigned all through every sequence and the extent of harm sustained.

Autos will be serviced and maintained by the Bowler group, protecting every little thing “from headlamps to hinges, air-con to wheel trims, wiring to bearings”.

There’s even a “prime service” obtainable the place the group will clear and element your automobile so it comes again to you “spotless” – which appears like numerous work contemplating how specialised these autos are for off-road adventures.

CarExpert’s Tackle the Land Rover Defender Bowler

I’ve at all times thought rally drivers have been a wholly totally different breed.

Subsequently, I’ve at all times steered clear apart from the occasional passenger journey with the likes of Sebastian Ogier, which scared me half to loss of life, because of a number of seconds suspended in mid-air in a forest in France.

The Defender Bowler is totally different. It’s seemingly the least intimidating purpose-built rally automobile ever constructed, but it surely’s additionally massively succesful and really addictive – even in case you’ve solely ever been a tarmac warrior.

Nonetheless, carry on the Bowler Defender V8, I say, this time with aspect pipes for a bit extra of a racket.

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