For the vehicles in the competition, the going will be gruelling in the days ahead. Many of the shiny vehicles will limp from the rainforest wrecked. For now, the colourful machines with its lifted body, special suspension, knobby tyres, roll-over cage and heavy-duty winch appear as gorgeous Big Boys Toys to the public.

A special salute to the Signals Corps of the Malaysian Armed Forces for providing emergency radio communication for rescue and evacuation. Their vehicle is the trusty Land Rover Defender seen here in the flag-off ceremony.