- Round 3 of Defender Challenge will see seven teams take to the start line
- Race to take place as part of Dukeries Rally in Nottinghamshire on Saturday 7th June
Whitley, Thursday 5th June, 2014: Round 3 of the Defender Challenge by Bowler series will take place this weekend as part of the Dukeries Rally in Nottinghamshire.
Fans will be able to see seven teams compete for top honours as the inaugural year of the Defender Challenge by Bowler rally series progresses into its third round.
Teams will be based at Southwell Racecourse, the hub of the 55th Dukeries Rally, where scrutineering will take place as well as the official start/finish and awards presentations activity. The rally course will test the teams and their Bowler‑prepared Land Rover Defender 90 vehicles across 44 stage miles through Sherwood Forest, comprising dirt roads and loose gravel tracks including stages through the Sherwood Pines.
Competition amongst the Defender Challenge teams is building ahead of the race. Driver Edd Cobley is set to return after his victory in Round 1 at the Mid Wales Stages rally, whilst the Race2Recovery team will be aiming to build on their win in the last round, a race that also signalled their series debut. Damian Taft, a previous Camel Trophy rally competitor, will also be up for the battle as he seeks to hold onto his status as number one in the driver rankings.
Speaking ahead of race weekend, Race2Recovery Team Owner Ben Gott said: "It was great to get off to such a flying start in Round 2 of the Defender Challenge by Bowler. It was reward for the team's efforts and also great to repay the support from our sponsors Land Rover who have made our entry into this series possible. The other teams will also be aiming to improve round‑on‑round so we're relishing the increased competition.
"We're also excited about our team development in relation to this rally series. A lot of people are aware of our team's work with injured servicemen and women and our commitment to inspiring people through their rehabilitation. Over the coming rounds, we'll be able to introduce new members to our team, including disabled civilians, and their participation in this series will offer them a great chance to gain rally experience in a variety of roles."
2014 is the inaugural year of the Defender Challenge by Bowler and Round 3 will see the starting line‑up feature seven teams, with more teams likely to join in upcoming rounds. The series has been created to offer competitors a clear pathway to progress to further international rally raid competition such as the Dakar Rally and the Africa Race.
Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "We're extremely pleased with the reaction that the Defender Challenge by Bowler race series has had so far. For a brand new rally series to already have seven registered teams by only the third round is a great achievement and goes to show how well the series has established itself in such a short space of time. It's also clear from the spectator reaction that rally fans are enjoying the added dimension these Bowler‑prepared Land Rover vehicles are adding to racing across the UK."
People wishing to find out more information about the Defender Challenge by Bowler should visit: www.landrover.co.uk and click on 2014 Defender Challenge or www.bowlermotorsport.com. Updates during the race can be found on the @LandroverUKPR twitter feed.
‑ENDS‑
CONTACTS
LAND ROVER PR CONTACT: Kim Palmer kpalmer@landrover.com 07795 666 169
PR CONTACT: Jim Williams, Fast Track jim.williams@fasttrackagency.com 07814 068349
NOTES TO EDITORS
Defender Challenge by Bowler race schedule:
| 2 March | Mid Wales Stages, Newtown, Wales |
| 12 April | Somerset Stages, Minehead, Somerset |
| 7 June | Dukeries Rally Southwell, Nottinghamshire |
| 19/20 July | Welsh Hill Rally Walters Arena, Swansea |
| 30 August | Woodpecker Stages Ludlow, Shropshire |
| 24/25 October | Rallye Sunseeker Poole, Dorset |
| 22/23 November | Borders Hill Rally Dumfries, Scotland |
Defender Challenge Rankings (after Round 2):
| Car | R1 Points | R1 Crew | R1 Points | R2 Crew | TOTAL | POSITION |
| VK13 ULY | 21 |
Edd Cobley Allan Jackson |
11 |
Rob Harford Jonathan Harford |
32 | 1 |
| VK63 XEU | 16 |
Damian Taft Simon Taft |
16 |
Damian Taft Simon Taft |
32 | 1 |
| VK63 XEF | ‑ | ‑ | 21 |
Tony Harris Richard Mitchell |
21 | 3 |
| WN62 XRD | 11 |
Andrew Wicklow Simon Armstrong |
9 |
Simon Armstrong Aynslie Morrow |
20 | 4 |
| VO63 XYW | 10 |
Stephen Richards Kevin Handley |
7 |
Stephen Richards Kevin Handley |
17 | 5 |
| WP63 FPL | ‑ | ‑ | 11 |
Matt Mills Jon Chester |
11 | 6 |
| VK13 ULX | 1 |
Richard Hayward Mathew Lister |
8 |
Richard Hayward Mathew Lister |
9 | 7 |
About the Defender Challenge by Bowler:
The Defender Challenge by Bowler is a one‑make rally series operated by Bowler Motorsport designed to act as a feeder series to the annual Dakar rally and other global rally competitions.
Continuing the strategic partnership announced in 2012 between Land Rover and Bowler Motorsport, the Defender Challenge will see competition‑prepared Land Rover Defenders being used in a one‑make, seven round, rally series taking place across the UK. The series will be regulated by the MSA (Motor Sports Association) and each Defender Challenge car will be FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) compliant enabling competitors to compete internationally.
The ultimate aim of the series is to provide a route for teams to progress to top rally raid competitions such as the Dakar and the Africa Race, a pathway previously non‑existent for drivers and teams aspiring to compete in the world's toughest races. Competing in the Defender Challenge by Bowler are drivers with experience of races such as the Dakar, the Dubai Desert Challenge, and drivers for whom this will be their first stage rally. For Damien Taft, this was his first motorsport event since representing the UK in the 1994 Camel Trophy. In addition, Richard Hayward is a previous Dakar competitor and a second place finisher in the former London‑Dakar race. Other drivers, such as Steve Richards and Andrew Wicklow, were racing in their first ever stage rally event, both with the aim of developing their skills and gaining the required license to compete in the Dakar.
All competitors drive Bowler‑prepared Land Rover Defender 90 vehicles that have been expertly modified for safety, performance and durability. The modifications to the competing Land Rover Defender 90 vehicles 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 Defender Challenge is a 'class' within existing rally events where total entries of all classes will be 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) an introductory 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.
About Land Rover:
Land Rover is supporting the Defender Challenge by Bowler series. Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true breadth of capability across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors. Land Rover products are currently sold in approximately 180 global markets.
About Bowler Motorsport:
Bowler is a market leader in the production of racing and high performance all terrain vehicles, and has been since 1985. The UK pioneers in Rally Raid cars, Bowler has continually competed at the highest levels and, during this time, has designed, developed and produced some of the most innovative, durable and exciting all terrain vehicles ever seen.
The Bowler Wildcat, Nemesis and now the EXR have all been proven in the toughest race in the world ‑ the Dakar. Each evolution of Bowler has refined the knowledge and experience gained from the previous one.
Based in Derbyshire in the UK, Bowler uses both technology and craftsmanship to deliver vehicles with style, strength, performance and an unrivalled spirit of adventure.
About Race2Recovery:
Race2Recovery is a successful off‑road racing team that provides opportunities for people who live with disabilities to participate in motorsport.
The team is the first and only motorsport team with disabled team injured members to twice enter and complete the Dakar Rally (in January 2013 and 2014). Team members achieve the extraordinary through endeavour and endurance; they are courageous and undaunted by injury, disability and challenges.
Race2Recovery is a strong and supportive team; members become a part of the R2R family and the team are supported by a loyal community of followers from around the world.
