With this year’s Spring season just around the corner, it means it’s time for Land Rover and Bowler to kick off their annual Defender Rally Series competition — an event that promises to be the biggest and most competitive iteration yet. Alongside announcing the 16 drivers and copilots that will be competing in 2024, Bowler and Land Rover have also pulled the cover off of the modified Defender off-roaders that will be campaigned this season.

Starting out as a stock 300PS Defender 90 before being handed over to Bowler, the 2024 Defender Rally Series 90 begins with a full FIA-approved internal roll cage that’s been integrated with the donor’s body. This advanced monocoque bracing has been paired with a bespoke suspension design with new springs and bespoke FOX dampers and a revised front upper wishbone setup, plus stiffened gearbox mounts, strengthened engine and radiator mounts, braced and adapted front and rear subframes, and turret braces fore and aft. Cloaked in a custom livery, the entire vehicle also rides on a set of strengthened 18” Bowler wheels shod in BFGoodrich all-terrain rubber. 

Part of the idea behind the Defender Rally Series is to demonstrate the SUV’s off-roading abilities. As such, the team at Bowler opted to leave the vehicle’s 296-hp turbocharged Ingenium inline-four engine and eight-speed ZF auto untouched — aside from a new ECU, wiring harness, and Bowler Sport exhaust system. Inside, the cabin has been treated to polycarbonate windows, a full-size interior-mounted spare, a race steering wheel, and dual sport seats with race mounts and five-point harnesses. Other off-road upgrades included rally regulation rear marker lights, a Bowler front grille, a high-level snorkel, full 6mm aluminum underbody protection, a rear roof spoiler, front and rear wing claddings, wheel arch extensions, rally-spec mudflaps, and a Bowler mode that disengages the Defender’s traction, stability control, and ABS systems. 

The 2024 Land Rover Defender Rally Series kicked off on March 2nd at the inaugural Walters Arena off-road event, with rounds to follow in April, June, July, September, October, and November. And while all 16 Bowler-built examples are already spoken for, interested parties should act now if they hope to be one of the lucky few to get a slot for 2025.