Two Aberdeen students will travel 10,000 miles in a tiny Toyota Yaris this summer to raise money for charity.
Callum Duff and Luke Steven have signed up for the 2018 Mongol Rally, which will lead them through 18 different countries over a period of around four weeks.
Dubbed “the greatest motoring adventure on the planet,” the annual event attracts hundreds of participants who all take on challenge – in the smallest cars possible for maximum comedic effect.
The pair of 20-year-olds signed up for the expedition to raise money for Cool Earth, which protects endangered rainforests, and Dogs for Good which provides assistance dogs to those in need.
Mr Duff, who is coming to the end of his third year studying economics at Aberdeen University, said: “We have two months off for summer holidays and we’re both keen travellers and into cars.
“We thought it would be a bit of a challenge to mix travelling and driving, as well as experience new cultures and sights you would never go to on a regular holiday.”
The expedition will start near Prague in the Czech Republic on July 16, with the finish line opening in the Siberian town of Ulan-Ude on August 10.
“It is quite daunting,” Mr Duff admitted.
“We started talking about this in June last year so there has been quite a bit of time to let it sink in.
“It’s quite scary and we both know there will be some difficulties along the way, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Past rally teams have taken unique routes to reach the finish line, with some venturing into the Arctic Circle or as far south as Iran and Pakistan.
Mr Duff said: “We’re going to see and do so much, but it’s going to be spontaneous.
“The route we’re taking is not well documented and we’ll see a lot of different parts of the world.”
The pair are planning on taking a ferry across the Caspian Sea from Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan, before heading into the mountains along the Afghanistan border and ending up in the Mongolian tundra.
But despite the looming fear that he could be left stranded if the one-litre Yaris breaks down, Mr Duff’s friends and family are all backing him.
He said: “My parents are pretty calm about it.
“They’re definitely anxious because it’s quite dangerous what we are doing, but they’re very supportive of me and are just saying I need to err on the side of caution.”
The duo are currently in the process of raising £1,000 for their chosen charities, and are appealing for donations and for business to sponsor their trip.
For more information contact duffcm@hotmail.co.uk