Published on March 6th, 2024 | by Sounder Rajen

JLR Reveals Defender Rally Series 2024 And it Is The Most Competitive Season

Get ready for another season of the Defender Rally Series with JLR this 2024

Defender has revealed the 2024 Defender Rally Series vehicle and driver line-up ahead of the opening round of this year’s UK championship on Saturday 2 March 2024. This year’s Series will have the largest competitive field in the championship’s history, with up to 16 driver and co-driver pairings contesting each event.

It brings novice and experienced drivers together to compete in the UK’s premier one-make off-road motorsport championship. Applications are already open, and in demand for 2025. This season’s drivers have diverse motorsport backgrounds, from novices and track-day enthusiasts to experienced circuit and off-road racers.

Moreover, all of them will benefit from expert driver coaching and work support across the season. Each of the specially prepared Defender 90s will feature a unique take on the new 2024 championship livery, customised to suit each competitor with a statement colour behind a signature black pattern.

The rally-ready Defenders campaigned in the series are closely related to P300 production models with added safety features, including race-specification seats, FIA-approved roll cage and fire extinguishers.

They use the same powerful 300PS Ingenium petrol engine, responsive eight-speed ZF automatic gearbox and advanced All-Wheel Drive system as showroom models, with all mechanical enhancements, rally support, competition entries and vehicle logistics taken care of by an expert team from Bowler.

The third annual Defender Rally Series features seven rounds and begins with a bespoke Defender event at Walters Arena in Wales (2 to 3 March). Every round is designed to challenge and thrill in equal measure, allowing competitors to develop their skills in a close and competitive field, whether they are new to rallying or seasoned drivers looking to develop and progress towards higher-level competitions.

On top of that, competitors who will be living Defender’s ‘embrace the impossible’ ethos in the 2024 Defender Rally Series include former Boyzone member Shane Lynch, and Vanessa Ruck, an adventure motorcycle racer and online content creator.

She finished fourth in the 2023 UK Championship with multiple podiums to her name, and will also contest the European Baja Championship this year. The Defender Rally Series European Baja Championship comprises four events, the first in Wales followed by France, Spain and Iceland, with some intended for those in their second year of the Series with the required rally licence.