TWO old school friends are preparing for an 8,000-mile charity trip to Outer Mongolia in a rusty old car - worth less than a set of tyres.

James Hammond and Mark Swindells hope the 1992 Fiat Panda will take them across 13 countries, five mountain ranges and two deserts.

The 25-year-old former pupils of Ripon Grammar School, in Ripon, North Yorkshire, bought the car off Internet auction site eBay to compete in the 2005 London to Mongolia Rally.

The 999cc green Panda was chosen to comply with rally rules, which state vehicles must have an engine no bigger than one litre and must be in a poor state of repair.

Mr Swindells, a businessman from Harrogate, North Yorkshire, said he was beginning to panic ahead of the trip, which starts on July 30.

"The car has rust holes and bits dropping off," he said.

"At least two of the countries are politically unstable and once we get to Uzbekistan there are no roads.

"But we are determined we'll make it. It should take us about three weeks, travelling 600 miles a day, but we will keep going, even if it takes us six months."

They hope to raise thousands of pounds for the Save the Children and Send a Cow charities by competing in the rally.

Mr Hammond, who lives in Scotland, decided to take on the challenge while a student at Newcastle University when two friends challenged him.

The friends have since pulled out, afraid they might not make it.

"We will share the driving and probably sleep in the car, although we might get the odd hotel," he said.

"But this will be no holiday."

The pair are busy applying for visas and buying spare parts and tools.

For safety, they will ride in convoy with two other Pandas.

On arrival in Outer Mongolia, the car will be donated to charity before the drivers take the luxury of a flight home.

Sponsorship can be made on 0771 1055638 or by visiting www.justgiving.co.uk/mongol-rally