Edd Cobley won the final round of the inaugural Defender Challenge, securing victory for Team Harford which just edged out the Race2Recovery team.

THE FINAL RACE in the inaugural Defender Challenge by Bowler saw the in-form Race2Recovery team edged out by Team Harford which went into last weekend’s final race with a one point lead.

Championship winning driver for Team Harford, Edd Cobley said: “I was very nervous at the start line because it is so easy to throw these things away. I was driving very cautiously but it paid off and I am really chuffed with the result.

“I am honoured and proud of the team and the car, and of course what Bowler has done with the vehicle. It’s been a great championship and we have made some life-long friends which is what rallying is all about.”

Finishing in second place, and securing its sixth podium of the 10-round series, Race2Recorvery’s driver Ben Gott praised his co-driver Stephanie Boddez who secured the navigator’s seat after a successful test with the team – a rally novice Boddez had seen the Race2Recovery team profiled on TopGear and wrote them. Boddez uses prosthetic limbs after losing both her legs to meningitis at the age of 17.

Race2Recovery’s Ben Gott said: “It’s been a brilliant year. We are very thankful to Land Rover for its sponsorship over the past twelve months. It has meant that the team has learnt new techniques, and Steph has really blossomed, helping her on the road to international rally raids in the future.”

Mark Cameron, Global Brand Experience Director, Jaguar Land Rover, said: “We’d like to congratulate Edd Cobley on winning the first ever Defender Challenge championship. The series has proved to be a huge success and has showcased the unique abilities of the Land Rover Defender.

“For Land Rover and Bowler, one of the many positives to come out of the series is that we’ve provided a platform for teams, drivers and navigators who to progress to international competitions like the Dakar Rally. We are delighted that three of our teams are set to tackle Dakar in 2016 and are looking forward to an expanded Defender Challenge next year, which will see the event move into Europe for the first time.”

Drew Bowler, Managing Director of Bowler Motorsport said: “The first year of the Defender Challenge has reminded us all what fun motorsport can be and should be. We have had a new group of people who have come in to motorsport who have all had good time and it’s not cost them too much money.