36,000 mile Drive in 1978 Mini for Charity

"Last time I drove around the world I had huge problems with maps," comments Duncan Mortimer. "In an average car, folded sheet maps are awkward enough, but they are an absolute nightmare in a Mini jammed with everything that myself and my co-driver need. This time, we're being location intelligent; by using MapInfo Professional linked to a GPS system, we'll know where we are at all times and we may even have enough space to breathe!"

While the car may be mini-sized, the interior is big on technology. The 1275cc vehicle would impress even James Bond's 'Q' with its bank of onboard computers, satellite phone, video-conferencing and global satellite navigation. In fact, the intrepid adventurer will not be taking any maps with him at all - all of the world's roads are contained on his navigation software and he can pinpoint his location on the onboard computers at any time.

This will be the third time that Duncan and his pint-sized car have made this historic trip, having previously done so in 1996 and 1999, raising thousands of pounds for cancer charities along the way. The ten-month journey will take him through the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, Russia, Poland and then back to the UK through Europe. Altogether, he will cover around 36,000 miles - 11,000 circumnavigating Australia alone.