The race, which sees participants drive from the UK to the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator, has been dubbed the “Great Banger Rally” as competitors must make the trip in a vehicle with an engine capacity of one litre or less.

Philip and Andrew are driving a one-litre Suzuki Swift and are hoping to make the journey through Europe, Russia and Kazakhstan in five weeks.

However, the path ahead is sure to be filled with incident as there is no recognised route and the 500 teams taking part must make their way there unsupported.

Dundee man Philip said, “We decided we wanted to do a road trip and Andrew had heard about the Mongol Rally through a friend.

“We thought it looked like great fun and decided to give it a go. We have been trying to enter for three years but there is so much demand for it we were never able to get a place.

“It just happened that this year I managed to get registered and was lucky enough to get accepted.

“When I heard we had got on I was ecstatic as we had pretty much given up hope that we would be able to do it.”

Philip met Andrew, who is from Edinburgh, when they were both training as mechanics for BMW and the pair are hoping their professional know-how will give them an advantage.

“With so many old cars making the journey it should be useful us both being mechanics,” he said. “It might make us popular with the other competitors too.”

The rally’s principle charity is Mercy Corps Mongolia, which helps rural communities to become self-sufficient, and Andrew and Philip have already raised £1600.