British explorer Ben Saunders aims to break North Pole speed record

British explorer, Ben Saunders, today announced his second attempt to become the fastest person ever to reach the geographic North Pole. Only two people in history have reached the North Pole solo and unsupported, the most recent being eight years ago. Ben left the UK for Canada on Tuesday 8th March flying north from Ottawa to Resolute Bay and will be dropped off at the edge of the Arctic Ocean on 16th March.

Ben’s attempt was cut short in 2010 due to equipment failure, when a faulty fuel container leaked, contaminating his food and supplies meaning he was unable to finish the expedition. Like the first attempt, Ben will undertake this expedition alone, on foot, without air-drops of food, and with the aim of setting a speed record.

The expedition, supported by Land Rover, aims to break the current record of 36 days, 22 hours, set by a team using dog sleds in 2005. It will also serve as a build-up to Ben’s groundbreaking Scott 2012 Expedition, which starts in October 2011, a 1,800-mile return journey to the South Pole on the centenary of Captain Scott’s Terra Nova expedition that will be the longest unsupported polar journey in history.

Ben has been training and preparing full-time for a year, and while ice conditions are worsening in the high Arctic each year, Ben feels confident he can take an expedition that is arguably one of the toughest endurance challenges on the planet.

Ben Saunders added: “I am fitter than ever, clothing, food and equipment have been arriving from all over the world, and we’ve been working day and night to make this expedition happen. I have no doubt that the Arctic will throw some huge challenges my way, but I’m looking forward to being back in that environment, and to finally standing at the North Pole again.”

Ben’s award-winning website (http://bensaunders.com) has been redesigned in preparation for the expedition. The new homepage will have hourly tracking of Ben’s position and followers will be able to track his progress in real time via Twitter.

John Edwards, Global Brand Director of Jaguar Land Rover, said: “Ben is an inspirational character and someone we are very proud to work with. As one of our Global Ambassador’s he is a great demonstrator of the Land Rover spirit of adventure. We wish Ben every success in his record-breaking attempt to the North Pole.”

Ben will also be supported by various iconic brands including, the Bremont Watch Company and Sunspel. As a watch of choice for Ben, Bremont will be working with the explorer to help develop and test their mechanical watches in extreme environments. And Sunspel, who has been making the finest English underwear since 1860, are providing Ben with custom-made merino wool thermal underwear to keep him warm at temperatures as low as -50 degrees centigrade.

For further information about the expedition and to follow Ben’s challenge, visit

www.bensaunders.com