Aston Martin pair set off on world-first Asia-London adventure

• Trail-blazing Brits Richard Meredith and Phil Colley set off from Tokyo today (June 25) at the wheel of an Aston Martin V8 Vantage, with their sat-nav set for London’s Trafalgar Square.
  
• They are aiming to become the first people in the world to cross the full extent of the Asia-Pacific Highway, whilst bringing attention to road safety and raising money to increase road safety awareness among children in developing countries.
  
• Their 10,000-mile journey in the factory-prepared V8 Vantage will take them through 16 countries, including South Korea and China. At times they will face inhospitable terrain, intransigent bureaucracy, intense heat, and a variety of other difficulties which will test them and their near-standard car to the limit.
  
• Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Richard, Phil and the V8 Vantage face a tough journey, but I have every confidence all three will succeed.”
  
• Richard, a 58-year-old teacher who lives in Newport Pagnell, Bucks., said: “I have dreamed of making this journey for two years, and in Aston Martin I found a partner with the confidence and enthusiasm to subject its car to a very public trial in the name of road safety.”
  
• Londoner Phil, 42, a travel specialist and tour operator, said: “We are proud, in our small way, to be joining in the effort of focusing attention on road safety among the young.”
  
• The trip has attracted the support of the regional commission of the United Nations and a variety of international companies, and a team based in the UK has been set up to monitor progress and organise help if it is needed.
  
• Richard and Phil are scheduled to arrive in Trafalgar Square on August 13.