DEFENDER: ON THE ATTACK Land Rover is getting ready for a return to top-level motorsport – with this Dakar-ready Words: Tom Alderney Pictures: Land Rover
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ince 1985, the name Bowler has been an ever-present at the leading edge of off-road motorsport in the UK. Founded by the late Drew Bowler and now part of the Land Rover empire, the Derbyshire company was already very highly respected in comp safari circles before becoming globally
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famous when the Wildcat 200 started appearing in the Dakar Rally and other international cross-country events. More recently, Bowler built a series of competition cars based on the old-shape Defender which competed in their own championship on the UK stage rallying circuit. And now, the company has
unveiled the successor to those vehicles – the 2022 Bowler Defender Challenge. Based on the current Defender 90, the Bowler Challenge model is fitted with a version of Land Rover’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine developing 300bhp. It’s fitted with a full cage, underbody protection, raised suspension, 18”
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