TREKKING from Thailand to the Vietnamese border, taking in Cambodia and Laos, the mountains, jungle and valleys of the region have been combed in order to find the most rigorous tests for the competitors in the opening stages of the 2006 Land Rover G4 Challenge.

Niki Davies, project director, said: "With a competition of this magnitude it takes a lot of time to work through all possible locations and routes before you can get on with planning the competitive activities.

"In the end, we have focused the action of the early stages in the wilderness of Laos. It's a beautiful part of the world, taking you from northern Thailand to the borders of Cambodia and Vietnam, with off-road routes that go on for hours at a time.

"The valleys around the Mekong River are a particular favourite, where the mud, water and river crossings can seem endless."

The four-week event, which Land Rover has confirmed will begin on April 23, 2006, starts with an urban challenge in Bangkok, capital of Thailand, before venturing into the mountainous hardwood forests of Laos, with forested mountains making up much of the terrain, through which the Mekong River flows (known as the Sea of Laos).

When the Challenge gets under way there will be 18 men and women representing their home nations in the month-long global adventure.

They will drive near-standard Land Rover vehicles, including the new Discovery 3, and carry an array of equipment that will aid the competitors as they bike, climb, kayak in their global quest for victory.

The ultimate winner will drive off in a new Range Rover. As one of the world's four remaining communist states, Laos remains largely untouched by the outside world and the arrival of a fleet of Land Rovers has certainly not gone unnoticed.

Once the Land Rover G4 Challenge has completed its opening stages in south-east Asia, it then moves to South America, arriving on the world-famous beaches of Rio de Janeiro.

The climax to the event comes on May 20 with a final showdown on the high plains of Bolivia.

Competitors can apply online at www.landroverG4challenge.com

Entry to the Challenge is free. In order to take part, competitors must be at least 21 years old, be a citizen or legal resident of the country they are applying to represent, have a valid driving licence with no previous disqualifications/suspensions and have a minimum of two years' driving experience.

Updated: 11:59 Friday, November 19, 2004