THE Land Rover G4 Challenge recce team is breaking new ground every day, having already covered over 10,000 miles of remote terrain across southeast Asia seeking out a trailblazing route.

Trekking from Thailand to the Vietnamese border, taking in Cambodia and Laos, the mountains, jungle and valleys of the region have been combined in order to locate the most rigorous tests for the competitors and their near-standard Land Rovers in the opening stages of the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge. "With a competition of this magnitude it takes a lot of time to work through all possible locations and routes before you can get on with planning the competitive activities," said Niki Davies, Project Director.

"In the end, we have focused the action of the early stages in the wilderness of Laos. It's a beautiful part of the world, taking you from northern Thailand to the borders of Cambodia and Vietnam, with off-road routes that go on for hours at a time. The valleys around the Mekong River are a particular favourite, where the mud, water and river crossings can seem endless."

The four-week event which Land Rover has confirmed will begin on April 23, 2006. When the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge gets under way there will be 18 men and women representing their home nations in the month-long global adventure. Near-standard Land Rover vehicles, including the new Discovery 3 and a soon-to-be revealed new product, will carry an array of equipment that will aid the competitors as they bike, climb, kayak in their global quest for victory.

They also form an integral part of the competition, with tough, daily 4x4 driving challenges in a fleet of vehicles in their distinctive orange paintwork. The ultimate victor of the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge will claim a brand new Range Rover at the end of an unforgettable experience.