Winner gave gruelling test '150 per cent'

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Former Belgian fighter pilot Rudi Thoelen reckoned the inaugural Land Rover G4 Challenge last year "pushed me further than I had ever been pushed before".

"It is a tough test of both body and mind," he said. "I had nothing left at the end. I can still hardly believe I won it."

Thoelen, 31, was one of 16 competitors from 16 nations in the four-stage global adventure, in which each entrant had to navigate, drive, cycle, climb, abseil and kayak their way over tortuous territory in upstate New York, South Africa, Australia and America's Wild West. They drank more than 20,000 litres of bottled water and ate 2500 boil-in-the-bag meals.

Thoelen scrambled through the last stage in Utah's Snow Canyon State Park to claim first prize, a new Range Rover.

"I've given 150 per cent," he said.

Next year's event begins in Thailand and ends at high altitude on the plains of Bolivia. "In between," says Land Rover, "lay thousands of miles of vehicle-based adventure, strategy and sweat."

The company isn't saying what countries will host the middle stages, only that the whole event will be on two continents over four weeks in October next year and that 18 competitors from 18 nations will be involved.

Each nation will hold a national selections event to identify its top three qualifiers. These competitors will go through to the international selections at Eastnor Castle, a Land Rover proving ground in Britain.

Ultimately, only one competitor will be chosen to represent his or her country. New Zealanders who want to try their luck will be part of the Australian entry.

The new Discoverywill join the Freelander, Defender, and Range Rover in next year's challenge. A fifth Land Rover, yet to be revealed, will also be included.

The G4 Challenge, in effect the new Camel Trophy, apparently cost Land Rover about $21 million last year.

The off-road show was made up of 169 Land Rovers in four locations, 91 kayaks, 75 mountain bikes, three doctors, one dentist, one crano-facial surgeon, three photographers, 12 film crew, plus media and Land Rover support staff. Next year's will be bigger again.