The team consists of two final year university students from Blackpool. We are not even sure how we met but we have known each other for a few years now.

I (Roper) had been meaning to drive a car to Mongolia for charity for a while now (like you do) but had always had another project on during the summer. So one night in 2007, after consuming a few beers, I put the deposit and my name down for the Mongolia Rally.

Mr Daniel Roper and Mr David Newton

Pretty soon after that Dave was on board and the team was formed, albeit with the temporary team name of "Team Roperman" which hasn't yet been changed...

We attended the Tsaagan Saar in London in February and met up with some other teams, and the organisers of the event, along with the Mongolian Ambassador (pictured left).

Roper

Name: Danny Roper

Age: 22

Studies: Computer Games Development

About:

Enjoys travelling, socialising, and aquiring old cars with the intention of repairing them.

Backpacked around Morocco in 2006, and drove a 20 year old LDV van that had vaguely been converted into a camper around Scandinavia and Europe in the summer of 2007. No serious incidents occured, although a complete loss of braking happened a few times, including on some downhill sections in Norway, and partial failiure for the entire journey from Estonia back to the UK via Munich.

Going to learn the Cyrillic alphabet and hopefully some Russian, but got a lot of uni work and rally prep to do so it might not happen, which should just make it all the more interesting.

Roper in the Atlas Mts, Morocco, with hi-tech gear

Dave with a snake in Honduras

Dave

Name: David Newton

Age: 21

Studies: Biology

About:

Enjoys drumming, rugby, exploring and socialising. Final year biology student with an interest in conservation and herpetology.

Spent last summer researching the Hog island boa constrictor and chasing snakes around an island in the Honduras discovering a passion for animal photography. Not to clued up about cars, but probably valuable when having to survive or trying to find a bit of adventure. Hoping to get some great photographs out of this trip.

Probably pick a bit of Persian up off a friend, might come in useful. Watching a lot of Bear Grylls as well (just in case the inevitable does happen).