The most competitive field in Godzone's four-year history has been named with three-time defending champion Seagate back to defend its title.
Competition will be stiff for the world champion, however. Vidaraid, the top-ranked team in the world, and teams from Japan, South Africa and Australia have also been confirmed to compete in the largest adventure race in the world.
With just over a month until it gets under way in Wanaka on February 28, race director Warren Bates said it was ''shaping up to be an adventure race of epic proportions''.
''Vidaraid team captain Barbara Bomfin has confirmed they are buzzing about coming out to race here and we can expect a real ding-dong battle to go on between [Vidaraid and Seagate],'' he said.
The two teams were up against each other at the adventure racing world championships in Ecuador recently when Seagate won.
Japanese team Real Discovery will be led by Daisuke Minami, while Queenstown-based Morne Pienaar will captain South Africa's Assagai team.
There is a good mix of new international teams along with seasoned Godzone competitors, including Kiwi teams Lost & Lonely and Kauri Coasters, Bates said.
Kiwi team Breen Homes, made up of multisport heavyweights Keith and Andrea Murray, and their sons Charlie and Craig, are also expected to put out a stiff challenge to the rest of the field.
Coast to Coast podium placer Glen Currie is back with team BNZ alongside Daniel Jones, the son of renowned adventure racer Neil Jones.
More than 200 competitors make up the 55 national and international teams competing.
It is the largest field in the event's history.
