A former ‘Scarfie’ from the University of Otago and two of his oldest mates are taking part in an unpredictable 17,000 kilometre road trip for charity called the Mongol Rally.

They’ll be crossing borders in war-torn countries such as Afghanistan and less friendly to the west countries such as Iran and Russia.

Litigation Solicitor Simon O’Donnell, James Sewers and Nico Clere are all 25-years old and are on what they hope will be the adventure of a lifetime while raising £1000.

“It’ll take us about six weeks so it won’t be a quick trip as the rules of the race mean the car has to be powered by a 1000cc engine or less. We’re aiming at travelling about 400 kilometres a day,” he says.

The plan is to drive one day and explore the destination the following day.

“So we’ll get a day in perhaps Tehran and then rock on to the next town or country,” he says.

O’Donnell’s team is called ‘Flightless’ because they’re Kiwis. They bought a Nissan micra for about £500 to compete.

The event begins on 16 July and the team is raising money for the international charity, ‘Doctors Without Borders’.

There are 332 teams entered in the Mongol Rally.