Land Rover G4 Bolivia Challenge

Ask the logistics crew from Land Rover's G4 Challenge what it's like to plan a world-class global adventure race, and they are quick to tell you it is no easy task. Throw in far-off, poorly mapped locations like Laos, Thailand, Brazil, and Bolivia, and the undertaking becomes even more challenging. Local governments aren't always sympathetic and political uprising are not uncommon. But these guys are pros, and devote months in each location until they know the land, the culture, and the people like the back of their hands.

The second annual G4 Challenge kicks off in April. We joined Land Rover in Bolivia late last year as they prepared for the race. The competition will include adventurers from 18 countries and will take place over four weeks. Because off-road driving is the central theme of the competition, Land Rover vehicles play a major role in the event. A total of 134 orange-painted Land Rover Freelanders, LR3s, and Range Rover Sports will be driven in the competition.

In Bolivia, we took a stab at some of the mountain biking, kayaking, abseiling, and orienteering that the competitors will tackle, and it is safe to say that the competitors have their work cut out for them before they can win the first-place prize of a new Range Rover. Entry is free for the competitors but the selection process lasts a year and half. So if you think you have what it takes, you'll have to wait for the 2008 G4 Challenge. Until then find the nearest expansion bridge and work on your abseiling.