Epic off-road journey to re-start

MEDIA RELEASE
8 April 2011

Epic off-road journey to re-start – and it just got harder

‘Top to Bottom’ Marc II to tackle wintry high country

Toyota New Zealand today announced it will re-start its Top to Bottom off-road adventure from Cape Reinga to Bluff on Sunday, 15 May, setting the team the challenge to cross some of New Zealand’s most exposed high country as winter approaches.

The off-road challenge, with television presenter Marc Ellis at the helm of a specially fitted-out new FJ Cruiser, began on 21 February, the day before the Christchurch earthquake.

The team was just south of Kaipara in the early afternoon on 22 February when they heard of events in Canterbury, and a decision was made to postpone the journey.

Neeraj Lala, Toyota New Zealand Assistant General Manager of Marketing and Product, says an immediate postponement out of respect for those affected by the disaster was the only option: “It was not appropriate to continue and we had many messages supporting the decision.”

In just over five weeks’ time, the team will re-assemble outside Puhoi Pub to pick-up where it left off in the journey to celebrate Land Cruiser’s 60th anniversary.

Marc Ellis has many friends affected by the quake and says it put a lot of things in perspective: “A postponement was the only option. We were left with a feeling of unfinished business and are looking forward to re-starting. But one thing is for sure, we are now going to strike some ugly weather.”

“I love challenges, but I might have cause to re-think that call when we’re up to our axles in snow on some South Island high country pass. Some of the legs were going to be brutal in summer, so in the true tradition of the Land Cruiser legend, the trip to just got a whole lot tougher.”

Neeraj Lala says the team will be guided by Toyota’s Christchurch dealer, its customers and the 4WD community about appropriate activities in the region, before departing for Bluff through the heart of Otago.

Toyota expects the team to reach Bluff on 31 May via Waikato, King Country, Taranaki, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough, Canterbury, and Otago.

ENDS

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