The Range Rover Sport is the most driver focused vehicle that Land Rover produce, powerful, agile and yet still supremely capable off-road. We showcase its capabilities in a series of extreme off road challenges. This was the third instalment in that series. 

The Inferno Downhill in Mürren, Switzerland is the oldest and longest downhill ski race in the world, held every year on the Schilthorn mountain.

The challenge we created was to attempt to set a time on the same 15km long course, but in summer and in a standard production Range Rover Sport, modified only with a roll cage and stronger tyres – something no other vehicle has ever attempted. Of course, first the vehicle had to get to the top under its own power, which it did with aplomb. The driver we chose for the job was the original Stig from BBC’s Top Gear – Ben Collins.

We shot in summer, when most of the snow at the summit had melted. In testing, Ben’s section times were slightly quicker than the skier times. Then, it rained for 24 hours non-stop before we were due to shoot and the surfaces became treacherous. The challenge was now about keeping the vehicle on the mountain, the right side up. But Ben still set an incredible time. A world first. And in his own words, the hardest thing he’d ever done.

We shot the film with director Henrik Hansen on multiple HD formats including Arri Alexa, hard-mounted Canon 5Ds and GoPro. Producing a 5 minute documentary accompanied by 60 and 30 second TV spots, supported by social and PR.