Discovery Sport Goes Racing Against… Dogs

Dog power versus horsepower, what wins?

To find out, Land Rover took its Discovery Sport to the Vesileppis Ski Tunnel in Finland and pitted it against a team of husky dogs in need of training ahead of winter championships. The team of six sled dogs were led by middle distance champion Laura Kääriäinen, as they went head-to-head against the Discovery Sport in a unique one-kilometer (0.62-mile) sprint the dedicated underground tunnel.

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The competitors set off in opposite directions on the “race track” and to make things a bit more interesting, the Discovery Sport had to maneuver over a set of ice blocks, putting its wheel articulation and traction control systems to the test. The dogs meanwhile had a straightforward task of maintaining their speed – around 21 mph (35 km/h) – after they negotiated the first incline.

Obviously the challenge was setup more for fun than really seeing what’s faster. It also highlights the Discovery Sport’s versatility, as it transported lead husky Jami to the snow tunnel thanks to the SUV’s full height luggage divider, which prevents pets from accessing the passenger compartment.

“Snow is one of the most demanding surfaces drivers will encounter during winter around the world and Discovery Sport proved to be as comfortable in these conditions as the dogs,” said driver Karl Richards, lead engineer for stability control systems at Jaguar Land Rover. “Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response technology and intelligent four-wheel drive system ensure our premium compact SUV is in a class of its own when it comes to off-road driving – whether you’ve got two legs or four.”