Calling All Adventurers: Defender Has a Challenge for You
To all Canadian adventurers, overlanders and outdoorsy types: your country needs you. The Defender SUV brand just launched a massive global competition — Defender Trophy — that will see the best Canadian adventurers go head-to-head against others from around the world in a grand finale taking place somewhere in Africa in 2026.
If you’ve always thought The Amazing Race was kind of soft, or that off-road adventure is fun but lacks competition, this is for you.
“Our unique new global adventure challenge will bring nations together, as competitors co-operate to navigate tough terrain, conquer extreme physical challenges and solve tactical tests — all united by a greater purpose,” said Mark Cameron, Defender’s managing director explained.
The Defender Trophy event harks back to the legendary Land Rover Camel Trophy that overlanders talk about with a mix of nostalgia and awe. This time, for the new Defender Trophy, the company is inviting entries from more than 50 countries. Local selections will begin in summer 2025 before a series of national finals next spring that will determine who makes it to the global final — the championship round — in Africa in 2026.
“Winners will get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to team-up for an epic mission that will ensure Defender Trophy leaves a positive and lasting legacy on the people and places it encounters,” the company wrote. “Only those who embrace the impossible, with a passion for global conservation, need apply.”
The competition will comprise three types of challenges:
- Driving Challenges: Demanding tests of driving ability and navigation skills as the teams tackle tough trails, rocky inclines and hidden drops.
- Ingenuity Challenges: Innovation will be the key to success as our teams have to think fast, work smart and keep their cool.
- Physical Challenges: Daunting feats of physical strength, coordination and teamwork as our teams traverse canyons and cross rivers.
But wait! There’s more! It wouldn’t be a proper Land Rover competition unless it came with a special edition vehicle. And, we’re in luck.
Along with the Defender Trophy comes the new expedition-ready Land Rover Defender 110 Trophy Edition, unveiled in June ahead of its public debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’ll be a 2026 model-year Defender, so full details aren’t available yet. (Expect some choice upgrades.)
What we do know, however, is that the Defender 110 Trophy Edition will come in two appropriately nostalgic colours: Deep Sandglow Yellow and Keswick Green. The former harks back to the glory days of Land Rover’s international Trophy rallies, when Defenders were busy conquering impossible terrain rather than school runs. Meanwhile, Keswick Green speaks to a more refined British sensibility, evoking misty morning drives through the Lake District rather than sub-Saharan expeditions.
The Trophy Edition comes dressed for adventure, with black accents on the hood, lower bodyside, brake callipers, under-shield, wheel arches and rear recovery eyes. Those new 20-inch gloss black alloys wrapped in proper all-terrain rubber suggest this Defender won’t be spending weekends at the country club.
The expedition-spec roof rack, roof ladder, mud flaps and snorkel air-intake all scream, ‘Get Me Out of The City!’ All that’s missing are some extra spotlights and spare fuel canisters.
Don’t be surprised if you find yourself suddenly planning that ’round-the-world expedition you’ve been dreaming about since university.
