Turakina's multiple time national champion and 4x4 truck builder guru Dan Cowper with test his mettle and that of his machine in a whole new world in July.
The international attention Cowper has received for his Suzuki Extreme 4x4 Challenge competition led to an agreement with European distributor Red Winchesto accept one of his custom-made frames and part-built truck to shop around the northern hemisphere market.
Many fans of 4x4 truck competition had been following the Challenge through social media, specifically the CowperTrucks Facebook page, he said.
"The Europeans love the videos, what we're doing out there.
"Who would have thought? It wasn't the intention to run this event to build more trucks, but that's what come about."
Now, not only is Europe taking his equipment, but Cowper has been accepted to enter his own truck in the Eurotrial 2017 competition, which will be held near Gainsborough in the United Kingdom in July.
The part built truck and Cowper's own vehicle, with which he won the 2015-16 national title, shipped out of Napier this week.
Cowper said there will be 135 entrants for the EuroTrial, coming from many different countries.
He had been looking to link up with a United Kingdom team, but their spots were all full, and then after being accepted to join a Scandinavian group, the trial organisers called to say Cowper's team can fly their own colours.
"I just thought originally we were going to send my truck for a demo.
"They just got back to us last night and offered us to go as Team New Zealand."
Friend and fellow Wanganui 4WD Club member Andrew Bielby has confirmed he will go with Cowper as his co-driver - the pair combined in four rounds of last year's NZ 4x4 Trials Championship when Cowper regained the NZ1 crown.
Rather than victory, Cowper said the most important goal for taking part in EuroTrial was to introduce his brand to the European audience.
His truck has been placed in the most powerful division but he will not be making any alterations to its set-up from the national competition.
"It's anything goes - those guys have 40 inch tyres, portal axles, rear wheel tyres.
"Mine has 35 inch tyres and front steer.
"We'll just see how our vehicles and capabilities fare against what they're doing. A prime opportunity to promote it."
Cowper, his wife, and Bielby will fly to England on July 20, with the competition site open for inspection and practicing from July 24, before the event is held over the July 29-30 weekend.
