Range Rover Conquers the Dragon in 999-Step Challenge

Spark44 has put the Range Rover Sport to the ultimate test by pitting it against the twists, turns & steep steps of China's Tianmen Mountain.

The heart-stopping challenge sees the new petrol-electric performance SUV tackle 99 hairpin loops of the mountain road - considered to be one of the most dangerous and spectacular in the world - before ascending 999 steps to Heaven's Door in a world-first feat for a vehicle. 

With racing driver and 2017 Le Mans 24-hour class winner Ho-Pin Tung behind the wheel, all the action was captured in a stunning mini-documentary [top] shot by Sam Brown through Carnage, Rogue's specialist car division. From the atmospheric backdrop of the mist-shrouded mountain, to the sickening 45-degree angle at which the car charges up the steps (you can practically smell the sweat coming off Tung), it's a genuine nail-biter that'll have you hanging onto the edge of your seat. 

The successful stunt forms part of the brand's Driven Challenges series, with previous tests including Pikes Peak, Empty Quarter and Inferno Downhill. “This was the most testing challenge of the four," commented Brian Fraser, Spark44’s chief creative officer. "It was touch and go at some points and we were genuinely concerned whether we would do it or not. But the Range Rover Sport came through again.”

Running alongside the hero documentary are a set of social films focusing on the different facets of the challenge, shot by Brown's stablemate Tom Barbor-Might, which you can watch below.

The Driver

Testing 

Scale of the Challenge 

Director Sam Brown talks vertigo, tyre blow-outs & shooting through the clouds in our behind the scenes Q&A, coming soon.