FOUR petrolheads have set off on a challenging adventure to drive a 22-year-old four-wheeler across Asia in 90 days.

The Bahrain residents are channelling UK’s Top Gear trio and will cross rough terrain, treacherous stretch of deserts, tropical forests, mountain ranges and marshlands during their “epic” journey to Beijing.

Bill Daly, Charles Daly, Tim Holder and Dirk Fuelner will put the 1991 Land Rover Defender to the ultimate test as they set up camp in six countries.

They drove from Bahrain to Dubai, where the car was shipped to Mumbai, India, before heading to Kathmandu in Nepal and crossing into Markam in China and then drive to Laos.

The team will experience humid and tropical weather conditions as they venture into Chiang Mai in Thailand, cross into Cambodia and enter Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

They will end the trip back in China, where they will drive north via Hong Kong and Shanghai before arriving in Beijing by the end of next month.

Mr Daly spearheaded the trip to put Bahrain on the motoring adventure scene and to test the car’s practicality, endurance and durability.

“I am sure that this expedition will prove to be a journey of epic proportions and will result in a fascinating and useful record of unusual travels,” he spoke to the GDN from Mumbai.

“For me, this type of multi-terrain adventure is what the Land Rover Defender is ultimately designed for and the fact that it’s used every day by the emergency services and aid workers around the world gives me great reassurance.”

However, the group faced difficulties in arranging their travel route before they started the journey, explained Mr Daly – who previously took part in overland horse voyages and a south African safari expedition.

“Due to restrictions on entering Myanmar by road we are forced to circumvent that country and therefore proceed south west from Markam, China, for another border crossing into Laos,” he said. “We will travel through Laos and into Thailand, visiting Chiang Mai and Bangkok.

“From there we will head to Phnom Penh in Cambodia and then on to Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam.

“We will proceed north up the Vietnamese coast to Hanoi. A second border crossing will be made into China and then we travel onwards to Hong Kong.

“Continuing our journey north, we will visit Shanghai before reaching our final destination of Beijing.

“Not only will the trip test our endurance as drivers, but also the endurance and capabilities of the Landrover.”

The team has been provided with the necessary tools and spare parts for their journey by Euro Motors.

“We conducted a thorough service and will be supporting (the group) with some spare parts. We are happy to see Mr Daly and his team of fellow explorers embark on this adventure from our Land Rover workshop,” said Land Rover general manager Anthony Raymond.

After the trip, the group will publish a guide book for overland drivers and travellers, who want to cross international frontiers in their vehicles.

noora@gdn.com.bh