Land Rover Defender 90 by Team Land Rover Philippines

The first China-Sanya International Off-Road Challenge, which shall be held from 19-23 September 2009, is a competition brought to us by the Founder of the Rainforest Challenge (RFC) – widely considered as the Formula 1 of the 4×4 world.

At CustomPinoyRides, we are proud to present you with the vehicle that Team Land Rover Philippines is using to compete in this extreme event – the Land Rover Defender 90, arguably the best 4×4 by far. Read on to find out about the various customizations and modifications done to allow this Defender to traverse all the challenging obstacles that it will be facing in this extreme event.

Photos © Robby Consunji

Suspension

The stock Defender 90 Pick-Up has been lifted 3 inches with Scorpion Racing Coil Springs. Combined with fender trimming front and back, this allows the fitment of 35 x 10.5 r16 Simex Extreme Trekker Centipede Tires.

The orange +3 inch lift springs are from Scorpion Racing.

Front fender being trimmed.

Rear fender trimmed.

Aside from the coil springs, the Scorpion Racing Extreme Suspension Kit has been installed. This replaces most of the stock suspension components and allows the Defender to flex its suspension like never before. This keeps all wheels on the ground for traction no matter how uneven the terrain may be.

The Scorpion Racing front shock tower allows the fitment of longer shocks (12 inch stroke), which are courtesy of Bilstein.

The rear suspension from Scorpion Racing has angled radius arms, and allows the fitment of longer Bilstein shocks (16 inch stroke). If you’re wondering why the rear springs are not attached to the upper mounts, that’s because it really isn’t attached! The Scorpion Racing kit allows this to happen so as not to limit downward suspension travel. This might look scary when you see it happen for the first time as the spring would dislocate itself from it’s upper mount and travel almost a foot downward. But once it starts to compress back upwards, the spring is guided back into place by the wedge-shaped upper spring mounts.

Check out just how much flex the Scorpion Racing Extreme kit can take!

Wheels and Tyres

The wheels are 16 x 7 steel rims from a Land Rover Discovery fitted with custom beadlocks to keep the 35 x 10.5 r16 Simex Extreme Trekker tyres from unseating themselves through the rough terrain.

Look at the voids on those Simex tyres. Perfect for clawing your way through extreme terrain.

Drivetrain

The front Axle has been stuffed with an ARB Air Locker for maximum traction, and an MJ Lee differential guard to protect the front pumpkin from protruding rocks.

The rear Axle also has an ARB Air locker installed, and the left-hand side axle shaft has been replaced with a Salisbury heavy-duty piece to prevent breakage, as this is the longer side of the axle.

Engine

The Land Rover 2.5L 300Tdi diesel engine has been kept mostly stock for reliability. Though the alternator had been repalced with a 110 ampere unit due to the additional load from the accessories such as the external lighting, winch, and dual battery system.

The snorkel has been modified as well since in the jungle, branches and vines somehow have the tendency of wanting to decapitate snorkel components. Hence, the elbow of the raised air intake was moved from the side of the front wing or fender to the wingtop, and the pre-cleaner or snorkel head was replaced with extended flexible tubing and a perforated pipe installed at the b-pillar rollbar.

External body Protection and Recovery Points/Gear

External body protection consists of a roll cage, winch bumper, tree sliders, rock sliders, limb risers from the front wingtops to the top of the rollcage to prevent wayward branches from smashing on the windscreen, and diamond plating covering various body parts. Also check out the custom ground anchor stored on top of the bumper.

Several recovery attachment points have also been installed. And see the shovel and Hi-Lift jack attached to the swing-away spare tire carrier.

Interior and other gear and accessories

Concept One racing seats and 4-point harnesses.

The interior has a two-way radio, switches for the external lights, ARB lockers, and other accessories.

Air compressor and tank.

Jerry Can.

Survival Gear and Spare Parts.

Twin Optima Yellow Top Batteries.

External Lighting

External lighting for the night stages.

The Team

Team Land Rover Philippines is composed of Driver Larry Mendiola and Co-Driver Sergio Jamila.

Larry Mendiola is the recipient of the “Driver of the Year – 4×4 Category” from the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) in 1996, 1999, 2001 and 2004. Larry ranked 5th and 6th places respectively in the field of international competitors in the Rainforest Challenge of Malysia (RFC) 2005 and 2006.

Atoy Jamila is an experienced sportsman adventurer. AtoySergio holds the distinction of being the most seasoned Filipino to compete in the RFC, having competed in the RFC thrice in the years of 2000, 2005 and 2006.

LRPhils Motors, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Land Rover vehicles in the Philippines, has provided the Land Rover Defender 90 for the Challenge in Sanya. They have sponsored the modifications of the Defender 90 in order for it to withstand the rigors of this competition.

Team Land Rover Philippines. From left to right: Marc Soong, Executive Director of LR Phils Motors, Inc‚ Marvin Roxas Mechanic ? Cameraman, Atoy Jamila Co–Driver, Larry Mendiola Driver, Dennis Javier Technical Advisor; Willy Soong President of LR Phils Motors, Inc., Robby Consunji, Rainforest Challenge representative Philippines.

The Defender 90 arrives in China. This is the most extreme Land Rover from the Philippines.

Specifications and Modifications

1998 Land Rover Defender 90 Pick-Up
300Tdi 2.5 liter diesel engine
5-speed manual transmission
ARB Air Lockers, front and rear
ARB Air Locker air compressor, with tire inflation line
Land Rover Salisbury heavy-duty axle shaft, LH rear
Concept One racing bucket seats, 2 pieces
Concept One 4-point seatbelts, 2 sets
Warn M8274-50 Electric Winch, with 6 HP motor & freewheel winch drum
Scorpion Racing Extreme Suspension Kit
Scorpion Racing Coil Springs +3”
Bilstein Shock Absorbers 5150 Series
Super Pro Polyurethane Suspension Components
Simex Extreme Trekker Centipede Tires, 35 x 10.5 x 16
Discovery Steel Rims, custom bead locks
MJ Lee differential protector, front
Optima Yellow Top Batteries, 2 pieces
Dual battery charging system
Battery cut-off switch
110 ampere alternator
Halogen sealed beam headlights
Auxiliary lights front, 4 pieces
Auxiliary lights rear, 2 pieces
Custom modifications: — winch bumper, roll-cage, roll-bar, skid plate, rear differential protector, front suspension guard, rock sliders, tree sliders, rear lamp guards, recovery swivel hooks, wing top protectors, tree limb risers, raised air intake, swing-out spare wheel carrier, tarpaulin bed top, body panel checker plate protection, heavy duty steering rods, front axle retaining chain, radiator mud screen, jerry can mounting, steering wheel, storage locker.
Ground anchor
Perforated aluminum platform, 2 pieces
Hi-Lift Jack
Shovel
Jerry can
Fire Extinguisher, 2 pieces
First-Aid Kit
Pintle hook rear
Dyneema plasma synthetic winch rope, spare
Two-way radio
On-board video camera

Thanks goes out to Atty. Robby Consunji, Offroad Editor for Top Gear Philippines, for the Pictures and Specifications. Cheers!

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