Rally-converted Landie makes the perfect Dakar training machine. Quick enough, a handful at times – but dependable and great fun. A
Land Rover Defender turned into an MSA-passable production-spec rally car. Its been developed and built by Bowler Motorsport – the same people who brought us the incredible EXR S – with input and sponsorship from Land Rover itself. And while it isnt primarily intended as a road car, it is road-legal. The Defender Challenge car offers a direct route into international motorsport for people who consider tarmac circuit racing – the national rally championship, even – a bit dull and unadventurous. Once youve bought your 60,000 Defender competition car, you can enter a series of seven UK rallies held throughout the 2014 season organised by Bowler, as a feeder series into proper, full-blown, desert-yomping international rally raids like the Dakar. Bowler will provide as much or as little support as you want, and help you along the way not only to getting the relevant licence stamps for international competition, but actually putting your rally-prepped Landie on the Dakar start line in South America. Assuming you have the budget and the commitment to make it that far.