Adventurers Philip Young and Paul Brace set off on the 10,300-mile trek on 1 February with the intention of raising money for the charity Farm Africa, and drove relentlessly through 13 countries and two continents in the almost standard Panda.
The pair averaged 1,000 miles a day at 40mph in their 0.9-litre TwinAir-engined city car. The hatchback had just a few vital modifications over a showroom car such as an extra fuel tank, two spare wheels, sump guards, stronger springs, and an air intake moved to the top of the engine bay.
The guys shunned the use of a larger 4x4 car saying that would be 'too easy'. They choose the Panda for its lightness, performance and fuel economy. The co-drivers' bed was cut down foam mattress across the back seat.
The route included tough, unmade pot-holed roads and treacherous, dry desert tracks through South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia before they crossed the Mediterranean for the final run up through Italy and France to London.
The Fiat Panda is available here priced from €11,995 - €14,495. Engines are a 1.2 69bhp, 1.3 MultiJet 75bhp, and TwinAir 85bhp.
