- Newcomer David Johnstone rallies to victory on his Defender Challenge by Bowler debut, as North Wales hosts penultimate round of the series.
- All seven Defender Challenge teams complete the testing rally, despite two crashes.
- Race2Recovery now within a point of championship leader Edd Cobley, with the title to be decided at the series finale in Dumfries, Scotland.
Monday 20th October 2014 ‑ Belfast's David Johnstone claimed victory in Round Six of the Defender Challenge by Bowler series, to set up a championship decider at next month's Borders Hill Rally.
Seven teams battled through testing conditions in North Wales, as their Bowler‑prepared Land Rover Defender vehicles raced across 45 difficult miles of forest and tarmac stages at the Cambrian Rally. The seven Land Rover Defenders were amongst just 83 vehicles to complete the rally, from 120 starters.
After a tough day of rallying, Johnstone, helped by his co‑driver Joseph Monaghan, topped the podium in their first Defender Challenge event.
Jonhstone said: "The Defender did everything, and more, than we'd expected. The stages were rough and the course seemed to suit the way we drove. It's been great to compete alongside all the other teams, and to win the event was just a bonus."
The Northern Irish duo will now head to the Borders Hill Rally in Dumfries next month, where championship leader Edd Cobley will do battle with Race2Recovery for the Defender Challenge championship title.
Cobley's hopes of securing the title in Wales were dashed, with the Leicestershire driver only able to recover one championship point, following a dramatic crash in Stage 4 , near Penmachno.
Another driver to complete the course, despite a tumble, was
Damien Taft, who's point‑scoring recovery highlighted the inherent
strength of the Land Rover Defender.
Race2Recovery, which finished the rally in second place, are now
just one point behind Cobley in the championship having celebrated
its fifth consecutive podium finish in Llandudno.
The team enables people with disabilities to participate in professional motorsport and has received backing from long‑term partner Land Rover to enable its entry in the series.
One of the disabled members of the Race2Recovery team, female co‑driver Stephanie Boddez, has won plaudits for her efforts in the series so far. Belgian Boddez uses prosthetic limbs after losing both her legs to meningitis at the age of 17. She became involved with the Race2Recovery team when she contacted them after watching them on the Top Gear TV series. The team invited her to join them for a day in the co‑driver's seat and, after she showed a natural flair for navigating, they invited her to become a full member of the race team.
She said: "To finish this course, let alone come second this weekend is great. It was very slippery with lots of difficult hair pins and you never know if you're going to take a tumble like Edd [Cobley] did.
"I've heard some great things about the Borders Hill Rally, and after coming second in the Welsh Hill Rally earlier in the year, we think we can do very well there. It's exciting to be in contention for the championship and we'll try to push Edd all the way in Scotland."
Rally fans can find out more about Stephanie Boddez' story in a new short film released online by Land Rover: http://youtu.be/SRH9fyfRNw0
2014 is the inaugural year of the Defender Challenge by Bowler race series, which features seven rounds, held across the UK. The series has been created to offer competitors a clear pathway to further international rally raid competition such as the Africa Race and Dakar Rally. Three teams from the Defender Challenge are currently preparing to compete at Dakar in 2016.
Drew Bowler, Managing Director of Bowler Motorsport said: "The first six rounds of the Defender Challenge have provided some memorable rallying, including a great event in North Wales.
"It's very exciting that the championship will go down to the final event in the series at the Borders Hill Rally. Edd Cobley has proved to be the man to catch all year, but this weekend's result shows how competitive the Defender Challenge has been and the championship will go right down to the wire."
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. The series has proved to be a huge success and we are looking forward to a great finale in Dumfries next month as our debut season comes to a close.
"For Land Rover and Bowler, one of the many positives to come out of the series is the fact that we've been able to provide a platform to teams, drivers and navigators who will progress to international competitions like the Dakar Rally. We are delighted that three teams from the Defender Challenge are set to tackle Dakar in 2016."
People wishing to find out more information about the Defender Challenge by Bowler should visit: www.bowlermotorsport.com or, to get a taste of the action, watch the highlights video at: http://www.landrover.co.uk/sponsorship‑and‑experiences/defender‑challenge.
ENDS.
For further information contact:
Paul Garbett, Defender Challenge by Bowler Communications:
paul.garbett@fasttrackagency.com,+44
(0)7718 340555
Kim Palmer, Land Rover UK PR Manager
kpalmer@jaguarlandrover.com,
+44 (0)2476 564129
Editor's Note:
About the Defender Challenge:
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.