Driven Lincoln students to push Vauxhall Agila to the limit in Russia charity trek

Three ambitious University of Lincoln students will be driving 16,000 miles to Ulan Ude, Russia and back in a 1.2L Vauxhall Agila – all to raise money for charity.

The mission, known as the Mongol Rally, is in aid of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance and rainforest protection charity Cool Earth.

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It will commence on Sunday, July 17, when the boys will travel from Goodwood, Southampton to Russia on their 57 day trek.

The team, which consists of Joseph Lewiston, 22, Jan van der Lubbe, 20 and Jake Lloyd, 21 who named the expedition the Legend of the Anvillians, aim to arrive back in England on Saturday, September 10.

Some £500 of the money raised on their JustGiving page will go to Cool Earth, while the rest will be donated to Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

The group have already began filming a gripping series based on their adventure and the trip will be filmed throughout.

The car, fondly named Annie by supporters of the fundraiser, is undergoing a rigorous round of tests and will soon even have her own website up and running.

Photo: Legend of the Anvillians Facebook Page

The Mongol Rally challenge has only three rules:

1. You can only take a farcically small vehicle
2. You’re completely on your own
3. You’ve got to raise a £1000 for charity

Joseph, who is in his third year studying media production at the University of Lincoln was inspired by a group called The Adventurists, who created the Mongol Rally.

He said: “The whole story behind the trip was from a company called The Adventurists who created the Mongol Rally and I really wanted to do it.

“Last year I got together a team of six people but unfortunately they all dropped out. I then spoke to Jake, as I knew him through gymnastics at the university, and asked if he was interested. We then asked Jan and it was all go from there.

The group plan to follow this route in their Vauxhall Agila. Photo: Legend of the Anvillians Facebook Page

“We have never done anything on this scale before but we are all seasoned travellers.

“One of the rules for the Mongol Rally is we have to raise a minimum of £1,000 but we think we can smash that so are aiming for £3,000.

“I am as excited as I am terrified for this trip.”

The group has been sponsored by a number of companies, including: Blacksmiths arms, Rothwell, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, Cool Earth and Pentagon Motor group.

If you would like to donate money and support the group in their journey, you can follow the link here.