For the 2010 version, five judges, two photographers and one assistant (we needed someone to cook for us) headed south from Sydney in convoy into the Victorian High Country. Right into the middle of the heaviest rainfall and worst flooding in the area for years.
Everywhere we turned it was raining. River crossings flooded, tracks closed, usually passable trails turned to ice skating rinks. There was so much ground water, we had to abandon our camping plans and bunker down in local hotels and motels for the duration of the week’s testing.
While the weather tossed up a mountain of challenges for both man and machine, it also provided a different feel to what for the last 5 years or so has been a dry testing period. We certainly put the vehicle’s water proofing to the test over the course of the week.
In line for the major award this year were Nissan’s Pathfinder and Navara, Toyota’s HiLux, Mitsubishi’s Challenger and Jeep’s Grand Cherokee. All new for the 2010 model year and all set to make the 4WDOTY contest a closely fought battle.
The February issue is on sale 19th of January.
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