Hong Kong trio set for London to Mongolia rally

A team of Hong Kong competitors will take part in the 16,000-kilometre Mongol Rally for the first time next month.

It's the 10th anniversary of the car marathon that starts in London and finishes in Mongolia - and teacher Natalie Chan, Hong Kong University medical student Aaron Chan and Chinese University law student Jonathan Ma are relishing the challenge.

As the Panda Express team, the three 26-year-olds will embark on an epic journey across a third of the world on July 13. And as the Mongol Rally website makes clear, it's an unsupported adventure that can be extremely dangerous.

"You really are on your own and you are putting both your health and life at risk. It won't be easy but it sure sounds like an adventure, doesn't it?" Natalie said.

Besides the risky and exciting nature of the race, ultimately the trio are taking on the challenge for charity - Cool Earth, an environmental organisation that protects Amazonian rainforests.

"Living in Hong Kong where the air quality is getting worse by the day, I thought this charity is an amazing one to support as an attempt to offset our carbon footprints," Natalie said.