Mongol Rally 2010

Crazy car rally to Mongolia sees over 400 teams cross the start line

Last Friday over 400 teams simultaneously set off on one of the world's most unlikely adventure races: the Mongol Rally.

Forty teams left from Milan, 50 from Barcelona and an impressive 350 teams from the Goodwood Motor Circuit in the UK.

The brainchild of UK-based adventure travel company The Adventurists, Mongol Rally is a no-back-up, no support, no-set-route adventure that is expected to raise over half a million pounds for charity. In the words of the Adventurists themselves, "Teams take on up to 15 countries and 10,000 miles' worth of of mountains, deserts, bad roads, no roads, bandits and various other pickles in comically unsuitable 1-litre cars."

The Mongol Rally is an annual scramble to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia and each team drives a third of the way around the world to raise money. There is no fixed route and no mechanic support when the cars break down.

According to the Adventurists, "The world is just a little bit too safe. Gone are the days where the edge of the map called you forth to discover what lay beyond - satellite maps and GPS have it laid out before you leave the armchair. What if you want things to go wrong? What if you want a bit of unknown in a world full health and safety measures?"

In 2007 the Mongol Rally raised over £200,000 for charity. In past rallies, teams have gone as far north as the Arctic Circle and as far south as Afghanistan on their somewhat circuitous routes. "What happens to you between the start, the deserts, mountains, bandits and wilderness is anyone's guess," the Adventurists say. "In a normal year just over half the teams make the finish line in one piece."

You can follow the action at http://mongolrally.theadventurists.com/ and on Twitter