First international Defender race – Rallye Terres Du Gatin

How did I survive!!?? My first international Defender race and 40% crashed out

Welcome to Round two of the 2024 Defender Rally Series EU Baja Championship in Gatinais, France – Rallye Terres Du Gatinais. This is my first international rally in Big Boy my 2.3 tonne beast of a Bowler Defender 90! As I continue into year two of the Bowler Driver Development pathway I now have my national license through racing with Bowler Motors. And we are also upping my game in terms of teammates. I’m now with up there one of the most experienced motorsport individuals in the UK, Chris Hammond.

The Gatinas round offered the Bowler drivers yet another set of new environments to learn and build on our racing skills. Set in pretty luscious agricultural fields in France, just south of Paris, it was totally new conditions worsened by very wet weather in the lead up. It meant for treacherous wet mud and slippery conditions. By the end of lap one I was actually nearly in tears with the emotions. I was so grateful to Bowler for pairing me with Chris Hammond. His experience, knowledge and guidance kept me calm in the car but also enabled me to build confidence. Learning and adapting to the slippery conditions.

How did I survive in the Bowler Defender!!??

Of the 75 vehicles that started only 45 finished, that’s 30 vehicles either crashing out or having mechanical problems! So after only hitting one obstacle, I am proud to have not only finished but claimed 7th in class! Driving in treacherous conditions, a racing heart and a few tears while sliding in the mud, skimming over ruts, squealing with adrenalin, facing ice like terrain and avoiding huge ditches that were taking no prisoners! It was an action packed race.

You can see the full race behind the scenes here:

Next round is in Lorca, Spain and it’s a 500km day! Bring it on

2024 EU Baja Championship with Defender

As part of the Bowler customer experience and driver development programme they are offering a multiyear programme. The ultimate goal is to get you to the desert, going from total newbie to confident, ready and equipped for success. Having finished year one which saw me earning my national race license, a critical part in the journey, I’m racing the EU Baja Championship in my Defender.

With four rounds in the 2024 Defender series it’s going to be another jump in my motorsports career. New terrain, new challenges and much bigger distances. The full series information can be found here:

https://www.bowlermotors.com/defender-rally-series/

If you’re interested in coming to race, check out the Bowler website below:

https://www.bowlermotors.com/defender-rally-series/

If you want to know more about Big Boy, the 2.3 tonne beast follow the link below

https://www.bowlermotors.com/defender-rally-series/defender-rally-car/

You can read the full story of how I got into motorsports here:

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Whatsapp and www.thegirlonabike.com.