Father and daughter duo Terry Reynolds and Rhiannon Moore are preparing for the race of their lives when they take on the gruelling London to Cape Town Rally.

The ultimate rally challenge will see the thrill seeking pair drive through some of the most dangerous and inhospitable landscapes in the world – from the vast emptiness of the Sahara deserts to the jungles of the Congo.

For veteran racer Reynolds, 53, it will not be the first time he has pushed his driving skills to the limit.

Back in 2002 he completed the eight-stage London to Athens rally, the same year he placed 12th in the World Cup Rally which also finished in Greece's capital city.

But for his daughter, who does not yet have a Bermudian driving licence, the inaugural London to Cape Town Rally promises to be a baptism of fire.

"She pestered me and pestered me and in the end I gave in, it will be good for her," said Reynolds, whose daughter will primarily act as his navigator. "It's a great way to see a bit of the world and experience some different cultures.

"She's not got her driving test done yet but she's learning. I think she'll be quite good and she's not scared, that's the main thing.

"By the end (of the rally) we'll either be the best of friends or the worst of enemies, as you can imagine. We'll be sitting in the car for 27 days with her telling me what to do!."

From London the competitors will take a ferry to France and drop through Italy. From Genoa there is a ferry to Tunisia. From Tunisia it is then on to Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Congo, Angola, Namibia and finally South Africa.

Reynolds readily admits the rally, which starts at the Houses of Parliament on New Year's Eve and finishes at the Clock Tower in Cape Town, will be his most daring driving feat to date.

So dangerous is the African route, the 43-car fleet will require a military escort to ensure their safe passage through treacherous 'bandit country' for some parts of the race.

"There are a lot of bandit areas and we will get a military escort from the foot of Algeria through to Niger. For the rest of the way we are on our own," said Reynolds, who added there would be more danger from crashes than anything else.

Aside from the scorching heat, Reynolds and Moore will also have to contend with the difficult desert/jungle tracks – not the ideal terrain for a two-wheel drive vehicle.

"I think at the bottom end of Algeria and going into Niger will be tough. It is going to be very hard," said Reynolds, who added he and his daughter would be stopping at campsites throughout the race.

"Driving in the desert can really test you, especially in a two-wheel drive.

"In Nigeria and Gambia there will some interesting tracks. And they some of the areas of Namibia are like the moon."

Reynolds' modified Ford Focus – complete with Bermuda's name emblazoned across both sides of the car – has been upgraded especially for desert driving.

It is the same car Reynolds used for the Athens Rally and should there be any mechanical problems he will have to carry out his own repairs.

"The engine's different, the rating's different, the gear box's different and it's been totally stripped out," he said.

"We need to make it as light as possible. I've also ordered a new suspension as we need to raise the car two inches – we need to get it up as high as we can."

Reynolds, who got into racing year's ago driving Formula Four and Formula Four 2000 cars, said he was hoping for top ten finish.

"We're looking for a top ten but just to get through Africa in a two-wheel drive Focus will be an achievement."

Reynolds will be raising money for the Doctors without Borders charity and any prospective sponsors can reach him at www.londontocapetownrally.com or cell 535 9597.