Day two of the G4 Challenge was little more than a drive from Thailand into Laos, but it was followed by a major upset for UK representative Brian Reynolds. There were six competitions – involving driving, navigating, running, climbing, kayaking and abseiling – but Reynolds (pictured right) and his German team-mate Robert Schweiger completed just two of them.

The chain on Reynolds’s mountain bike was wrecked when a branch flicked up and got caught in a tyre. He abandoned the bike, but later discovered he had to bring it back, which involved a three-mile run. He also cut his leg after slipping in a cave, and battled unnecessarily through dense jungle for 45 minutes after missing a marker point.

“Tomorrow’s another day,” Reynolds said afterwards. “It can only get better.” He also reported a difference in attitude between himself and the man he is partnering for the first week of the competition: “I’m really keen and hyped up, but I think Robert is taking a slightly more relaxed approach.”

The Challenge stays in Laos for another day and more intense competition.

(this article was taken from carKeys.co.uk)

As you sink in to the car’s sedate interior you could be forgiven for mistaking it for an elegant drawing room on a country estate. Happily, you don’t need to be an aristocrat to buy this luxurious 4×4 vehicle.

Today, the Range Rover’s popularity encompasses not only the English landed gentry, the European equine experts and VIPs but other connoisseurs of fine vehicles. Now we see the Range Rover time and again on trendy MTV cribs. Realizing the potential in the market niche, some predominantly German automobile firms have stepped up the competition. In response, Range Rover launched the new Range Rover Sport which satisfies recent market demand.

To distinguish the Range Rover Sport even further from the classic Range Rover, Loder1899 has developed an unusual and audacious Body Styling Kit for this luxury vehicle. What stands out are the modified front bumper, the big air inlets with integrated illuminated diodes and the rear bumper with the stylishly formed exhaust system.

(this article was taken from marathonrally.com)

Land Rover has launched a the New York Auto Show a new broadband TV channel using Narrowstep’s Television Operating System (telvOS). The ‘Land Rover Go Beyond’ channel will be dedicated to the spirit of adventure and features Land Rover ‘VIPs’ such as Maria Sharapova, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, England rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio and the photographer Richard Young.

“Go Beyond is about going beyond personal boundaries and experiencing adventure in its many forms. It amplifies the core brand promise of Land Rover to ‘Go Beyond.’ It will also enhance our dealer environments, and work in tandem with our landrover.com website to drive sales and further improve customer loyalty,” says Phil Popham, Managing Director of Land Rover.

Go Beyond TV will consist of six channels ranging from travel, to Land Rover off-road journeys, food and wine, people and places. Go Beyond TV launches in New York offering material from the Discovery Channel. Content partners include Born Free, Biosphere Expeditions and the Royal Geographical Society. New content will be added every month, and there will be live broadcasts (from, for example, motor shows) and updates from special events. The latter will include the Land Rover G4 Challenge, which begins in Thailand on April 23rd.

(this article was taken from autoindustry.co.uk)

Gaydon, Warwickshire – On Sunday, 23 April, in the thriving metropolis of Bangkok, 18 competitors will eagerly await the signal announcing the start of the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge. The Challenge, which lasts 28 days, will see the 16 men and two women climb, kayak, abseil, bike, drive off-road and navigate their way over 4000 km of varied terrain in four countries, across two continents.

The urban competition kicks off the Land Rover G4 Challenge in Bangkok. Then, the competition ventures north into Laos for two-weeks of remote activity within the steamy mountains and valleys around the Mekong River where the jungle, mud, water and river crossings will provide an exciting array of 4×4 driving and multi-sport challenges.

On 5 May, the Challenge crosses the world to Brazil for the start of Stage 3 and a spectacular activity staged on the crowded beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Then they move onto Bolivia, where it gets tougher. Climbing the Andes Mountain range to altitudes of over 4000m and taking in such natural wonders as the vast salt plains of Salar de Uyuni, the event reaches its climax with the Challenge Final in a stunning remote natural amphitheatre near the city of Tarija. It is in this setting that the 18 competitors will complete the adventure and the ultimate victor of the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge will claim a brand new Range Rover.

“The terrain of Laos and Bolivia will ensure some really challenging driving,” explains Niki Davies, event director for the Land Rover G4 Challenge. “With very few tarmac roads, competitors will encounter deep rutted tracks, slippery mud crawls, slow winch sections and deep river crossings.”

In total there will be 134 Land Rovers working in a variety of roles to support the 2006 Challenge. The competitors will use the all-new Range Rover Sport 4.4-litre V8 HSE in Southeast Asia, the 3-door 2.5-litre V6 SE Freelander during the Urban

Challenge in Rio de Janeiro and then the wilds of Bolivia will be tackled in the 4.4-litre V8 Discovery 3 HSE.

Training has been intense for the 18 competitors, as they prepare to push themselves to the limit in temperatures ranging from + 40 to -20 degrees and extreme altitude. Their physical fitness, sporting and driving skills will need to be complimented with an ability to apply initiative and strategy to every situation.

“I’ve been dreaming of the moment I can represent the UK in the G4 Challenge for over 3 years. With the support of my employers GNER, my family and most of all my wife and 6 month old daughter I feel I am in the best shape I have ever been. What I don’t know is whether it is better than the other 17, but I will be trying 100% all the way to win through for the UK!” commented Brian Reynolds, UK competitor.

The field of 18 competitors includes a fire-fighter, paramedic, lifeguard, army instructor, and graphic designer.

Throughout the Challenge, progress of each of the competitors will be available on a daily basis from www.landroverG4challenge.com.

(this article was taken from autospectator.com)