Pretoria, South Africa – Thursday, 13 November 2025 – The Defender Trophy, Land Rover’s new global adventure competition, has officially begun with the completion of its first qualification event. Marking the return of the British icon to global challenge events, the Trophy blends extreme adventure with a greater purpose, supporting conservation partner Tusk in Africa.
Naoki Imamura will represent Japan at the global final in Africa in 2026, joining 33 other competitors from around the world. Over 10,000 hopefuls have applied to take part in the Defender Trophy so far, with six months of training and selection events planned across seven countries. South Africa’s selection events are set to run from 28 November to 6 December, featuring 48 contestants across two thrilling rounds. More information on the Defender Trophy – Epic Adventure, Greater Purpose – is available here.
Testing Mind, Body and Teamwork
Japan hosted the first qualifying round, with 24 adventurers battling a range of intellectual, physical, and tactical challenges over two days. Contestants navigated obstacles, transported and set up equipment, constructed bridges using logs and ropes, completed night driving missions, and tackled steep ascents and descents – all designed to test their resilience and teamwork.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, commented:
“The inaugural qualifying round of the Defender Trophy was truly outstanding. The participants embodied the spirit of Defender, pushing themselves to their limits while working in harmony with each other and the environment. Congratulations to Naoki Imamura – we are confident he will leave a lasting legacy at the global final.”
Honouring 45 Years of Trophy Legacy
Central to the competition is the new Defender 110 Trophy Edition, an expedition-ready 4×4 distinguished by its exclusive Deep Sandglow Yellow colour. Recently, it joined a global celebration of the Camel Trophy’s 45th anniversary at Eastnor Castle in the UK. The event brought together 38 past participants and over 200 enthusiasts, with the new Trophy Edition and Classic Defender Works V8 leading a convoy of original Camel Trophy vehicles through the estate.
A new short film on Defender’s YouTube channel captures the spirit of the original Camel Trophy – adventure, camaraderie, and teamwork – and shows how it lives on in the Defender Trophy. Competitors will need to cooperate, navigate challenging terrain, conquer extreme physical tests, and solve tactical challenges, all united in support of conservation efforts in Africa.
Defender Trophy Collection: Gear for the Adventure
Fans can now experience a piece of the adventure with the official Defender Trophy Collection. The range includes waterproof and insulated jackets, hybrid gilets, T-shirts, beanies, snoods, and caps. Practical adventure gear such as YETI travel mugs, a 21-litre water-resistant backpack, a three-person lightweight tent, and a golf umbrella is also available.
Adding a charitable dimension, £7.50 from every sale of rhino or lion soft toys is donated to Tusk. The collection also features Defender Trophy Edition model cars in Deep Sandglow Yellow and Keswick Green.
