Land Rover Owner Stories | Daphne Greene

INSPIRED TO DRIVE

Determined Land Rover Discovery driver Daphne Greene overcame extreme obstacles to gain the esteemed title of first woman to complete the Camel Trophy.

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For Land Rover owners, the desire to overcome obstacles just comes with the territory. Earning the prestigious title of first woman to complete the Camel Trophy, driver Daphne Greene knows that feeling all too well.

"It’s never about male or female. It’s about your competitive spirit. I always see possibilities instead of limitations."

Daphne Greene is currently a lead driving instructor at the Land Rover Experience Center, but she’s also an off-roading pioneer. And it all started in the driver’s seat of the Land Rover Discovery. In 1995, the vehicle carried her and Jim Swett as they represented the U.S. in the four-wheel-drive physical endurance adventure known as the Camel Trophy. The incredible journey took them through Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, then back to Belize. “We averaged three hours of sleep a night,” Daphne says. “And we didn’t bathe for three weeks. You stink. You’re sweaty. You’re hot. It’s 120 degrees in the shade and 97 percent humidity.”

But surviving without plumbing isn’t what makes Daphne’s story so astounding. Greene also broke ground as the first woman ever to represent the U.S. in the Camel Trophy. Her presence on the team brought plenty of media attention, with many at the time questioning why a woman would even want to compete, let alone have a chance to. “It was a course designed by men, for men, but I was focused. It was a bit of a shock to everybody when it became real that our team could win.”

"It was a course designed by men, for men, but I was focused."

The Camel Trophy is a race, but there were times when teams worked together to succeed. “We may need to go out with a Frenchman or somebody from the German team to locate logs and create a bridge to drive across,” Daphne says. “It’s that team spirit that’s important. It’s how you make friends, how you integrate and how you work together.” It’s no wonder, then, that in addition to her driving skills and a passion for the outdoors, Daphne holds an International Politics, U.S. and Foreign Affairs degree from Georgetown University.

Despite torn ligaments and a stress fracture in her ankle, Daphne finished the race. The team came in sixth, which Daphne saw as a win, and she used the experience to springboard a relationship with Land Rover. Today, as lead instructor of the Land Rover Experience Center, she uses those same teamwork and problem-solving skills to inspire every student she meets. Daphne doesn’t consider herself a feminist icon, but she’s certainly an inspiration to ambitious women everywhere. “It’s never about male or female. It’s about your competitive spirit. I always see possibilities instead of limitations.”