Land Rover G4 Challenge in 2003

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Land Rover was almost synonymous with the Camel Trophy as its vehicles were the only ones which could endure the extreme conditions of the global event. For various reasons (among them the desire to disassociate from cigarettes), Land Rover pulled out of participation in the Camel Trophy and for some years did not have any event which demonstrated the superior capabilities of what is claimed to be ‘The Best 4×4 By Far’.

In 2003, the company, part of Ford’s Premier Automotive Group, will be organising an exciting new global adventure which builds on the brand’s undoubted adventure lineage. It will have competitors from 16 nations competing in an exhilarating off-road driving and multi-sport challenge against a backdrop of some of the world’s most stunning scenery.

Known as ‘The Land Rover G4 Challenge’, the event will comprise four consecutive global stages, each in a different time zone, and will start in New York City on March 30, 2003. It will cover around 6,400 kms during five weeks of intense competition.

The G4 Challenge will have stages on the East and West Coasts of North America, in addition to Australia and South Africa, and participants will travel through remote areas as well as urban centres such as Quebec, Cape Town, Sydney and Las Vegas.

One competitor from each participating nation will be selected to represent their country in the Challenge from the thousands who are expected to apply when recruitment begins at the end of August 2002. As well as striving for individual success, competitors will have to demonstrate their abilities as bi-national team players by working with a different teammate during each Challenge stage.

“The Land Rover G4 Challenge will be the adventure of a lifetime,” said Bob Dover, Managing Director of Land Rover. “In line with our philosophy of inspiring and delivering adventure for everyone, entry is generally open to citizens of the 16 nations who are 21 or over . Although a higher than average standard of physical fitness is required, the G4 Challenge is more about international teamwork, clever strategic thinking and a positive ‘up for it’ attitude than out-and-out strength or stamina.

“It is also about being environmentally responsible,” he continued. “In each G4 Challenge location, we are working closely with environmental agencies, state and local authorities to ensure the impact of our activities is kept to a minimum, preventing conflict with other Land Rover environmental initiatives, such as Tread Lightly. Additionally, much of the competitive activity will take place in urban centres, where the Land Rover G4 Challenge will be accessible to many more people.”

All four Land Rover vehicles – Range Rover, Discovery, Freelander and Defender – painted in specially commissioned ‘Tangiers Orange’, will feature on the G4 Challenge, each demonstrating its off-road capability to its fullest across daunting terrain. All the vehicles will be built to standard mechanical specification, with specialist expedition equipment added to enable the competitors to ‘live’ in their Land Rover during week-long stages. The vehicles will also be capable of carrying the multitude of equipment – kayaks, mountain bikes and climbing kit – which the competitors will need during the event.

“For this first event, Malaysia is not included but we do not rule out the possibility of our country being on the list for future events. After all, Malaysia has been a venue for a past Camel Trophy event and we also had Malaysian crews taking part in that tough event before,” said Ali Shuib, Managing Director of Land Rover Malaysia. It is understood that, from the Asia-Pacific regon, only Japan and Australia will have participants in the G4 Challenge.