• Jonathan Steppe and Max Thomason “Team Cody” of Charlotte, North Carolina awarded first place in exclusive competition for 2022 Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition owners

• More than 80 Defender Trophy Edition U.S. owner teams put their skills to the test in this first of its kind experience at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C.

• Olympic athletes and Land Rover ambassadors Ted Ligety and Gabby Reece joined Defender Trophy Edition owners for friendly competition

• Steppe and Thomason to compete in Land Rover Trophy extreme adventure competition at Eastnor Castle in the U.K., the spiritual home of Land Rover testing and development, in 2022

(MAHWAH, N.J.) – October 21, 2021 – Land Rover today announced Jonathan Steppe and Max Thomason “Team Cody” of Charlotte, North Carolina as the winning team of the first U.S. Trophy Competition, an adventure off-road event exclusive to owners of the limited production 2022 Defender Trophy Edition SUV. The duo will have the distinct honor of representing the U.S. in an extreme adventure competition at Eastnor Castle in the U.K. in early 2022.

The Land Rover U.S. Trophy Competition took place on the grounds of the world-renowned Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. on October 11-17. Over 80 two-person teams faced off in a multitude of off-road challenges, including physical and team building obstacles. To ensure a level playing field, owners were provided expert one-on-one coaching to help hone their extreme driving techniques and skills in advance of the competition.

Land Rover ambassadors, champion skier Ted Ligety and pro volleyball player Gabby Reece, got their hands dirty as they competed alongside Defender Trophy Edition owners in a variety of technical, physical and communication challenges.

“We applaud the passionate Defender Trophy Edition owners who came together for this truly memorable experience,” said Joe Eberhardt, President & CEO, Jaguar Land Rover North America. “We look forward to Jonathan and Max’s next adventure as they take on even greater challenges at Eastnor Castle, the spiritual home of Land Rover testing and development.”

The limited production Land Rover Defender Trophy Edition is an adventure ready SUV paying tribute to the iconic 4x4’s long-standing expedition legacy. On sale exclusively in the U.S., purchase of one of the 220 examples included opportunity for a two-person entry into the brand’s U.S. Trophy Competition.

For more information about Land Rover Trophy or the 2022 Land Rover Defender, visit LandRoverUSA.com.