All three Israelis who advanced from local selection to the Defender Trophy 2026 European qualifiers failed to make the final four spots that will represent Europe’s 19 small countries. The new event, created by Land Rover JLR as a tribute to the legendary Camel Trophy expeditions held from 1980 to 2000, is intended to become an annual tradition.
More than 100 Israelis applied, and after screening and tests, three were chosen to fly to the regional European final in Spain. There, they competed against dozens of other Europeans for a place in the world final, scheduled for October 2026 at a secret location in Africa. Before departure, Land Rover Israel importer Hamezrach ran a preparation workshop at Har Horshan, including uphill climbing, water crossings, and rope-and-pulley vehicle recovery, led by Ofer Augesh.
The Israeli trio consisted of Itay Hadar Hirsch, a fourth-generation farmer from Moshav Lakhish who grows grapes, pomegranates, and sheep; Doron Winter, an entrepreneur and off-road enthusiast who helped found Israel’s motorcycle off-road community and has competed in rally events; and Ofer Kahan, a high-tech and engineering worker, off-road and travel enthusiast, and amateur photographer. Hirsch, 36, said his father took part in the Camel Trophy in 1995, and that he grew up watching footage of it repeatedly.
Hirsch said the Spanish event was both fun and demanding, combining driving, navigation, physical strength, and leadership. He said the toughest part was the long and difficult navigation runs and the hill climbs, which he compared to Har Horshan, only twice as hard. In the physical test, participants had to lift a tire with pulleys as many times as possible in one minute, and the Israelis, who weighed about 70 kilograms each, were at a disadvantage against Europeans over 90 kilograms. Hirsch said the atmosphere was supportive toward Israel, noting strong applause when the Israeli delegation was mentioned, and said the experience has made him want to train for next year.
