DEFENDER TROPHY: AN EPIC ADVENTURE CHALLENGE SUPPORTING TUSK. ARE YOU MADE FOR IT?
Defender is looking for individuals with an unstoppable spirit of adventure to take on a new kind of competition. The new Defender Trophy is inspired by Trophy and Challenge events of the past but will create its own legacy across three demanding rounds of training and competition. Only those who embrace the impossible, with a passion for global conservation, need apply. Epic Adventure, Greater Purpose.
Defender has been the vehicle of choice of explorers and expedition leaders for decades and the new global initiative is inviting entries in more than 50 countries. Local selections will begin this summer, before national finals next spring determine who will make it to the global final hosted with Defender conservation partner Tusk – 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.
An epic expedition needs an epic vehicle. The new Defender 110 Trophy Edition will signify adventure to a new generation of enthusiasts, as the competition will be watched by a global online audience. Bringing the event’s spirit to the streets, the Trophy Edition is available to order in a choice of two exclusive heritage-inspired colours – Deep Sandglow Yellow and Keswick Green – with a specially chosen adventure-ready specification.
Mark Cameron, Managing Director, Defender, said: “Global adventure and community have been the fabric of the Defender brand’s DNA for decades, staying true to its roots that can be traced back to the original Land Rover of 1948. 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.
“Working with Tusk, our conservation partner of more than 20 years, we will bring epic adventure to a new generation of enthusiasts, watching online, while leaving a legacy we can be proud of. If you embrace the impossible and share our unstoppable spirit of adventure, this is the challenge for you.”
Defender is seeking individuals who embody the values of the original British adventure brand to enter the inaugural Defender Trophy. Eligibility requirements include: entrants are resident in a participating country, over 23 years old, can swim 50m, eligible to drive and travel internationally, and speak fluent English.
Creating a legend: New Defender 110 Trophy Edition
The new Defender 110 Trophy Edition celebrates the return of the brand to international adventure challenge events and also offers a range of recommended expedition accessories that make the vehicle the perfect companion for every expedition. It also introduces two heritage-inspired colours that will represent adventure to a new audience of enthusiasts.
Available exclusively in either Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green, the new Trophy Edition features a contrasting Gloss Black finish on the bonnet, lower bodyside, brake calipers and rear recovery eyes. Deep Sandglow Yellow is a modern interpretation of a colour synonymous with Defenders used on international Trophy-style events, while Keswick Green celebrates rural exploration in Defender’s UK homeland. Both colours can be finished with an optional Matte Protective Film which provides an added layer of protection to the bodywork, providing reassurance and enhanced durability to those who go off the beaten track.
The adventure-ready specification includes new Gloss Black 20-inch alloy wheels wearing rugged All-Terrain Tyres for reliable grip on all surfaces, a Dark Rear Scuff Plate and Gloss Black Wheelarch Protection, with a Black front undershield.
Trophy decals on the bonnet and C-pillar graphic, plus Trophy rear badging, set the special edition model apart on the outside. Inside, Trophy illuminated treadplates reinforce its provenance, while Ebony Windsor Leather seats provide tough luxury. The exposed Cross Car Beam is finished in the same distinctive colour as the exterior and features unique laser-etched endcaps with Trophy branding.
For the ultimate off-road capability, optional accessories include an Expedition Roof Rack1 providing additional stowage space for gear-laden journeys, while a Black Deployable Roof Ladder makes it easier to access objects stored overhead. A Gloss Black Side-Mounted Gear Carrier providing extra space for muddy, wet or sandy items; Front and Rear Classic Mud Flaps; and a Raised Air Intake for dust filtration are also available.
Defender Trophy: A competition like no other Defender Trophy entrants will face obstacles and a selection of mental and physical challenges in a unique test of wit, willpower and teamwork. Epic Adventure, Greater Purpose.
When applications close, the countdown to next year’s global final will begin. Applicants from more than 50 countries will begin their quest to reach the epic global final through a series of local selection events. Early next year, regional finals will identify the national winners who will head to Africa for the global final in Autumn 2026.
More details of the final’s unique format will follow, but global finalists will go up against one another across a series of stages as part of one epic adventure, hosted in Africa with Defender conservation partner Tusk. Competitors will be scored individually but compete in pairs, with the lowest-ranked competitor given the first pick of potential teammates ahead of each stage.
Each stage will see the teams complete a variety of Driving Challenges, Ingenuity Challenges and Physical 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.
The teams’ progress will be shared with a global online audience, who will be introduced to a new generation of adventure challenge heroes. Building on the foundations of the earlier rounds of the competition, the winners of the global final will get the opportunity to leave a positive legacy with the people and places touched by Defender Trophy, by completing a unique Tusk conservation mission. An epic adventure, with a greater purpose.
