Land Rover's Latest Competition Resembles 'Survivor' but Involves Cars

      Land Rover

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      The new Land Rover Defender 110 Trophy Edition will be available in Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green, which is a great reason to celebrate its launch. However, the more exciting news from the British manufacturer is the return of the Defender Trophy. Land Rover is re-entering the realm of extraordinary adventure competitions.

      From 1980 to the late '90s, Land Rover famously hosted a series of remarkable international endurance events called the Camel Trophy. The basic concept was to showcase the brand’s vehicles and bolster its image as a durable off-road machine for adventurers, usually putting Land Rover’s latest model through a challenging series of overland trials with teams of adventurous competitors from around the globe.

      If you want to explore this further, we found a fantastic 90-minute video about it and previously shared a story highlighting the impressive trophies from the event.

      Later, as tobacco sponsorship diminished, Land Rover organized a similar event called the G4 Challenge, which featured vehicles in orange instead of yellow. However, that competition only lasted a few years, likely due to the economic downturn at the end of the 2000s.

      Since the re-launch of the Defender in its current form, it has participated in smaller outdoor-themed competitions like the TReK Competition, but nothing has matched the scale of the original Camel Trophy events (although the 2020 Defender launch in Namibia was quite stunning).

      It seems that the little square symbol represents the new Defender Trophy logo.

      The new Defender Trophy, set for 2026, appears to be a significant upgrade in scale. Competitors from across the globe will need to participate in local events to qualify for a final challenge in Africa, organized in partnership with Tusk, a nonprofit organization focused on wildlife protection that has been a long-time collaborator with Land Rover.

      Regarding the Defender Trophy Edition vehicle, it appears to be a standard four-door model equipped with optional camping gear and black steel wheels, along with a choice of the two appealing colors.

      Land Rover has been somewhat reserved with images of its attractive color options, but the restoration company Brooklyn Coachworks in New York has completed a few builds in Sandglow and Keswick Green, as shown here.

      For those interested in testing their skills for the trophy, I’ll share key lines from Land Rover’s official invitation:

      “Defender Trophy entrants will face obstacles and a range of mental and physical challenges in a unique assessment of cleverness, determination, and teamwork. Epic Adventure, Greater Purpose. Applications for the North American market will open soon...

      Once applications close, the countdown to next year’s global final will commence. Candidates from more than 50 countries will embark on their journey to the grand global final through various local selection events. Early next year, regional finals will determine the national winners who will travel to Africa for the global final in Autumn 2026.

      “Nants ingonyama bagithi baba!” (This is how the first line of the Lion King song is written.)

      Further details about the unique format of the final will be provided, but global finalists will compete against each other across various stages as part of one extraordinary adventure, hosted in Africa with Defender’s conservation partner, Tusk. Competitors will be scored individually yet compete in pairs, with the lowest-ranked competitor choosing their teammate first for each stage.

      Each stage will include a variety of Driving Challenges, Ingenuity Challenges, and Physical Challenges.”

      Here’s a brief overview of these three categories:

      Driving Challenges – Tough tests of driving and navigation skills as teams tackle rugged trails, steep inclines, and hidden hazards.

      Ingenuity Challenges – Quick thinking, smart strategies, and composure will be crucial for teams to succeed.

      Physical Challenges – Challenging displays of physical strength, coordination, and teamwork as teams navigate canyons and cross rivers.

      To apply, you must reside in “a participating country” (details to come), be over 23 years old, swim 50 meters, possess driving skills and the ability to travel internationally, as well as be fluent in English. I’m sure Land Rover will also seek individuals with off-road driving and outdoor experience. “An unstoppable spirit is essential,” according to their site. You can sign up for alerts on the Defender Trophy site and submit your application once they open. Who’s interested?

      Do you have any experiences with the Land Rover Camel Trophy, G4 Challenge, or TReK? I’d love to hear from you—feel free to reach out at [email protected].