To most motorists, a 1.4-litre Daewoo Kalos hatchback would be ideal for shopping, the school run, or popping up the motorway to visit relatives.

To author Richard Meredith, however, it is the perfect transport for a rather more challenging journey.

For 54-year-old Richard sets off next month to drive a near-standard Kalos 10,000 miles through some of the world's most inhospitable terrain, from GM Daewoo's Luton HQ to the South Korean capital of Seoul, the firm's global headquarters.

Richard, something of an adventurer, sold his magazine business three years ago and took a year off to back-pack around the world. He also wrote a book about his experiences in a book called One Way Or Another.

Recently, he agreed to spend six months teaching English at a university near Beijing, but, rather than fly direct to the Chinese capital, he thought: why not drive there? And so the "Daewoo Challenge" was born.

Explaining his decision, Richard said he owned a Daewoo, and by driving one to their HQ in Seoul, it would be only a short hop to China.

"I decided to put the idea to Daewoo's European HQ in Zurich," said Richard.

A left-hand-drive 1.4 Kalos was chosen, and is currently being prepared in Belgium with such equipment as roof-mounted luggage box, additional spare wheels, larger petrol tank, strengthened suspension, extra lights, and underbody and front protection.

It will also be equipped with telephone, lap-top and webcam.

Throughout the journey scheduled to take 80 days, a la Jules Verne - he will be raising funds for the SOS-Children's Villages organisation. It will take him through no fewer than 16 countries: from the UK to Holland, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Greece, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China, North Korea and South Korea.