• Land Rover LR4 convoy sets off on off‑pavement trail across America
• Daily updates on the journey across 10 states and 5,000 miles on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Land Rover's attempt to achieve one of the world's few remaining untouched epic automotive adventures ‑ to drive across America on dirt road ‑ got off to a successful start last week.

By the time Land Rover Expedition America reaches the Pacific Coast in North Bend, Oregon in late August it will have crossed 10 states, 4 time zones and 2 major mountain ranges, all on a web of linked dirt roads called the Trans‑America Trail [TAT].

The expedition's start point was the Smoky Mountains on Friday afternoon, when the four LR4s rolled out of the Land Rover Experience centre at The Biltmore in Asheville North Carolina, the furthest east in the United States that a dirt road can be found.

"It's a great place to begin ‑ straight from the Land Rover driving school onto a succession of amazing mountain trails," said Expedition Leader, former Camel Trophy veteran Tom Collins.

The expedition is using standard Land Rover LR4's, fitted with factory‑spec winches and roof racks for the marathon 13‑hour days. Each car is crewed by three drivers and navigators.

Swathed in low cloud, the North Carolina tracks were quickly replaced by those in eastern Tennessee. Outside Tellico, TN ‑ the start point for motorcyclists doing the Trans‑America Trail ‑ heavy rains had turned forest roads into streams and turned streams into fast flowing currents. LREA is only using established tracks and trails.

Bikers gathered in Tellico were intrigued to meet the LREA crew. There is, as yet, no record of vehicles having successfully made the crossing to Oregon.

Sam Correro of Corinth, MS, researched the TAT and he will join the Land Rover Expedition America when it passes through his home town this week.

To find a network of dirt trails and attempt such a trans‑continental trip in the 21st Century is remarkable in itself. However, progress will make the journey increasingly hard to achieve.

"In Tennessee the TAT trails are already increasingly being paved," explained Collins. "Who knows how long it will be before other states do the same with their unsealed roads. This is an expedition with a shrinking environment as its challenger."

The tiring, long and challenging days mean the crews have to pace themselves.  Drivers rotate duties regularly, carry emergency supplies and satellite communications. Even in the most advanced country in the world, this is a real‑world adventure.

Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma are the destinations on Week 2 of the Land Rover Expedition America. The route runs past Clarksdale, home of the Blues, and across the Mississippi River.

From the South, the adventure will emerge into the Mid West and the endless horizons of the plains. The route across Oklahoma kisses the southern border of Kansas for mile after mile.

"If it's not clear already, the next week will show the sheer enormity of this undertaking," added Collins. "The US is a big place, never more so than when you are crossing it on dirt."

ends

About Land Rover

Land Rover, the British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles, is renowned for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world. Every Land Rover vehicle is equally at home both on and off road, and in any setting; be it in the heart of the city, or traversing the countryside. Today's Land Rover lineup includes the legendary Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR4 (Discovery 4), Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque. Land Rover designs, engineers, and manufactures their vehicles in the United Kingdom. Land Rover is fully engaged with sustainability initiatives and social concerns with continuous involvement in environmental and community programs. For more information visit the official Land Rover website at http://www.landroverusa.com.

About Jaguar Land Rover

•The United States is one of the leading global markets for both Jaguar and Land Rover

•Jaguar Land Rover employs 25,000 people and sells vehicles in 170 countries around the world

• Jaguar Land Rover has two state of the art engineering and design facilities and three advanced manufacturing plants in the UK

• In the 2012/13 fiscal year,Jaguar Land Rover has reported revenues of $23.8 billion, up 17% year on year ($20.4 billion last year)

•Jaguar Land Rover has test facilities acrossthe USAin the following states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.

• Headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey in the United States, Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC has offices across the USA and Canada. Jaguar Land Rover has offices in the following locations: California, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington D.C.

• Jaguar Land Rover is represented by more than 330 independently operated retail outletsin the USA