WHO NEEDS TARMAC?

This off-road adventure features some very special V8-engined Defenders. Matthew Hayward endures the Land Rover Classic Trophy

- Matthew Hayward

THERE'S NOTHING QUITE as tense as watching a pair of brand new £225,000 Land Rover Classic-built Defenders attempt to cross a river via a makeshift wooden bridge. Especially as we had only just rebuilt the structure using basic knot-tying skills learned less than 24 hours earlier!

It's good to get outside your comfort zone once in a while and the Land Rover Classic Trophy is certainly helping with that. It's designed to evoke memories of the epic Camel Trophy expeditions, with challenges condensed into an action-packed three days off-road at the Consall Hall Gardens Estate in the glorious English countryside of rural Staffordshire.

So what exactly is the Land Rover Classic Trophy? For those lucky enough to buy one of the 25 limited-edition Defender Works V8 Trophy II cars, entry into this exclusive off-road competition is included in the purchase price. Octane has been invited to join this year, taking part in 'SNO', JLR Classic's engineering car, used extensively to test the bespoke modifications for the Trophy II. Everybody else will be using their own freshly built cars.

We start the day at the JLR Classic Works near Coventry, where each of the teams is introduced to their new Defender for the first time. Although most are experienced Land Rover owners, it's a good opportunity to be shown around the car and its unique features, not to mention being given a tour of the facility.