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J77



Member Since: 04 Nov 2019
Location: Fife
Posts: 3450
Scotland 
Official Dakar Partner
Official partner from 2025 and full works team in 2026

https://media.landrover.com/en-gb/news/202...eting-2026 24MY 90 D250 HSE, Tasman Blue
Post #1052919 25th Nov 2024 6:30pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 914
Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Good timing for LR to absorb Bowler…

This should be interesting! 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1052920 25th Nov 2024 6:39pm
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 123
United States 
I bet members the same team from Bowler that developed the rally Defender will be on the Dakar team. I wonder if they will make a ground-up rally raid car and give it Defender design cues, like how VW did with the Race Touareg, or if they will take a stock Defender and modify it for the rally. I'd love to see them go for the latter! 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1052939 25th Nov 2024 9:02pm
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Zed



Member Since: 07 Oct 2017
Location: In the woods
Posts: 3354
United Kingdom 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black
Quote:
I wonder if they will make a ground-up rally raid car and give it Defender design cues, like how VW did with the Race Touareg, or if they will take a stock Defender and modify it for the rally. I'd love to see them go for the latter!


This could be great news for Land Rover. I think the main classes are still T1 for tubular chassis rally raid beasts and T2 for modified production cars. I wouldn’t have thought the production Defender would be up to the task, plus a class win even if they managed it isn’t as prestigious as the overall, but I agree it would be great if they did. WARNING.
This post may contain sarcasm.
Post #1052949 25th Nov 2024 10:09pm
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1259
 
CincyRovers1 wrote:
I bet members the same team from Bowler that developed the rally Defender will be on the Dakar team. I wonder if they will make a ground-up rally raid car and give it Defender design cues, like how VW did with the Race Touareg, or if they will take a stock Defender and modify it for the rally. I'd love to see them go for the latter!


from the press report....

-Under the partnership agreement, Defender will supply a fleet of support vehicles for Dakar rally officials and VIP media until 2028, plus six highly specialised recce vehicles.


I can remember when LR got involved with the WRC. Ford wanted Freelander 1's in blue with big Ford logo down the side .... to use as promotion/recce/support vehicles, shown in the LR shop/stores (in the day)





What WRC got was older bodied Freelander phase 1 with face lift phase 2 , but old interiors.
These vehicles were the old French launch Freelander 1, which were sat in a compound. They were tricked up to look like new. Not the M-Sports
Post #1052977 26th Nov 2024 10:22am
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CincyRovers1



Member Since: 30 Nov 2023
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 123
United States 
LR Nuts wrote:
CincyRovers1 wrote:
I bet members the same team from Bowler that developed the rally Defender will be on the Dakar team. I wonder if they will make a ground-up rally raid car and give it Defender design cues, like how VW did with the Race Touareg, or if they will take a stock Defender and modify it for the rally. I'd love to see them go for the latter!


from the press report....

-Under the partnership agreement, Defender will supply a fleet of support vehicles for Dakar rally officials and VIP media until 2028, plus six highly specialised recce vehicles.


I can remember when LR got involved with the WRC. Ford wanted Freelander 1's in blue with big Ford logo down the side .... to use as promotion/recce/support vehicles, shown in the LR shop/stores (in the day)





What WRC got was older bodied Freelander phase 1 with face lift phase 2 , but old interiors.
These vehicles were the old French launch Freelander 1, which were sat in a compound. They were tricked up to look like new. Not the M-Sports



Yes, but they also mentioned in the press release that they will also be competing as a team starting in 2026:

"In addition to its role as official car partner from 2025, Defender has confirmed its intention to enter a works team, beginning in 2026. Defender will be commitment will prove its durability and capability in the world’s most demanding off‑road competition. Details about the future Defender rally raid competition program will be announced during Dakar 2025."

That's why I said it'll be interesting to see what they come up with, and like I said, I hope it is a rally raid Defender based on a production one, and not a purpose-built racer like the VW Race Touareg. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar)
𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red)
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone
Post #1053006 26th Nov 2024 3:26pm
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1259
 
I suspect it will be a 'tweaked' Octa.

Remember, I'm sure Bowler went bust.
Post #1053019 26th Nov 2024 5:42pm
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Grenadier



Member Since: 23 Jul 2014
Location: The foot of Mont Blanc...
Posts: 5889
France 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Corris Grey
I suspect some will break down. Whistle Monsieur Le Grenadier

I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list.....

2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey
Post #1053215 28th Nov 2024 3:33pm
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Philm



Member Since: 19 Jun 2020
Location: Manchester
Posts: 176
United Kingdom 
LR Nuts wrote:
I suspect it will be a 'tweaked' Octa.

Remember, I'm sure Bowler went bust.


Didn't Land Rover buy them out?
Post #1053247 28th Nov 2024 6:48pm
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cyberhusky



Member Since: 09 Feb 2021
Location: Luxembourg
Posts: 276
Luxembourg 
That's great to hear.
The picture on the promotion site is great with the woman's sandglasses and the Defender lights. But also the model's earings which are square like the small LEDs!

Let's hope they will revive a Camel or G4 Trophy or something similar, if they win DAKAR 2026! 22MY Defender 110 (actual) | 10MY Freelander 2 (history) | 15MY Discovery Sport HSE (history)
Post #1053248 28th Nov 2024 6:52pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 914
Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
Philm wrote:
LR Nuts wrote:
I suspect it will be a 'tweaked' Octa.

Remember, I'm sure Bowler went bust.


Didn't Land Rover buy them out?


Yes, Bowler didn’t go bust. LR bought them and brought it in house and closed the Bowler factory. 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1053250 28th Nov 2024 7:13pm
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LR Nuts



Member Since: 10 Aug 2022
Location: UK
Posts: 1259
 
I'm sure Bowler was 'asset stripped' under LR
Post #1053257 28th Nov 2024 7:40pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20699
United Kingdom 
I would imagine if true, that LR have some sort of plans with their purchase, and that’ll be under wraps.
Who knows, it’s hard to say, but one day we might find out at some point. TheThunderRolls🇬🇧🇺🇸
⛽️🛢️⚙️🧰💪
Post #1053261 28th Nov 2024 8:39pm
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BrickBox



Member Since: 05 Oct 2021
Location: Wales
Posts: 914
Wales 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Zermatt Silver
https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/loca...640419.amp 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
Post #1053263 28th Nov 2024 8:46pm
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90 Dreamer



Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2220
United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
motorsport side still posts on Socials...........
https://x.com/bowlermotors
Post #1053310 29th Nov 2024 10:36am
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