TWO fearless students will soon be jumping behind the wheel of their trusty Ford Fiesta and driving it through 17 countries, five mountain ranges and two deserts in an epic charity rally. Guy Willis-Robb, of Congresbury, and fellow university student Tom

TWO fearless students will soon be jumping behind the wheel of their trusty Ford Fiesta and driving it through 17 countries, five mountain ranges and two deserts in an epic charity rally.Guy Willis-Robb, of Congresbury, and fellow university student Tom Welchman are to take part in a 200-car race from London to Mongolia in Tom's J-reg Fiesta this summer. Guy said: "The idea is that we are inevitably going to break down and it is up to us to use our wit, charm and resourcefulness to fix the car."There is no support crew at all so we are on our own through the whole journey, across roads, mountains and deserts."As soon as Europe is in the rear view mirror tarmac becomes a luxury and dirt tracks take over."In order to take part in the renowned Mongol Rally, organised by the Institute of Adventure Research, entrants must drive in a car with an engine size of 1,000cc or less.Organisers describe it as: "An 8,000-mile dash across a quarter of the earth's surface in cars most people consider underpowered for doing the shopping."Guy, aged 22, and Tom, aged 23, will start in Hyde Park and will have to travel across countries such as Germany, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Tajikstan before the final 1,000 miles through the Gobi Desert, which they will have to navigate with just a compass. Their destination is the Outer Mongolian capital of Ulaan Baatar.Guy is in the third year of his masters degree in mechanical engineering at the University of the West of England in Bristol. The 22-year-old claims to be the mechanical brains behind the operation, and believes he should be able to solve any car-related problems.He said: "Tom is in his last year of a business studies degree, which will hopefully come in useful when negotiating bribes with police enforcement when crossing through some of the less savoury border controls. He will also be in charge of the budget."Tom came up with the idea when he watched a TV programme about it and he read an article somewhere. He told me he had asked lots of people and they had all said no. He said I was the only person stupid enough to say yes."I'm not nervous yet, although when we set out from Hyde Park with the rest of the cars I might get a few butterflies."As well as a first prize, more novel awards such as the most unusual item carried in the car are also up for grabs. But Guy and Tom say they are just concentrating on getting their 1991 Fiesta across Europe and Asia.Proceeds from this year's rally will be split between five international charities, including Send a Cow.Guy and Tom have already raised the £1,500 minimum for charity but are desperately in need of sponsorship and are asking companies if they would sponsor the car.Guy said: "The rally will be screened on TV and the national press will be covering the event, so there will be loads of coverage for our sponsors."Anyone who wants to sponsor the pair should e-mail nextstopmongolia@hotmail.com or visit www.nextstopmongolia.mongoliarally.com