Dan Risch, 19, from Swanbourne, and three former schoolfriends hope to drive a 1994 Toyota Corolla from Hyde Park in London to the Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar as part of the 2008 Mongol Rally, an annual event raising money for charities working in Mongolia.

Their team, dubbed the British Expeditionary Farce, aims to reach Ulaanbaatar in one month, with a route taking them through countries such as Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Each team must raise a minimum of £1,000 for the rally charities CAMDA and Mercy Corps. Organisers hope this year's rally will raise more than £300,000.

Mr Risch, a former Winchester College pupil, said: "It's such a great event because it really captures people's imaginations.
"It doesn't matter if it all goes wrong, because you'll have fun working it out."

Mr Risch praised the work of the rally's charities, which work to improve basic amenities, literacy and business skills. Entrants must buy a car for less than £500 and raise a minimum of £1,000 in sponsorship, and are on their own when it comes to planning routes, arranging visas and equipping vehicles.

Among the 200 other teams taking part is the two-man Team Swifty, made up of students Tom Chettle, 20, from Bicester, and Jeff Pepper, 21, from Tring. Both work part-time in the Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury.

Mr Chettle said: "We bought a car – a Suzuki Swift, hence our name Team Swifty. And we found a name badge in the boot with 'Maria' on it – so the car had to be called Maria. It's quite something, considering we'll be driving one-third of the way around the world, over some of the toughest terrain imaginable. It's the chance of a lifetime, a chance not to be missed."

All finishing vehicles will be donated to a local orphanage and sold to the highest bidder.

Visit the websites http://mongolrally.theadventurists.com/ for details on the event, and www.willwemakeit.com/thebritishexpeditionaryfarce and www.team-swifty.com for team details and to make donations.