To the OP, if you do decide to do the 2012 Mongol Rally, you might be interested to follow our adventures as we take on this year's event. We're not going via China - it's just too expensive and too bureaucratically difficult, and believe me we're dealing with plenty of both those things thanks to our own visa-intensive route, through Iran and all the 'stans of Central Asia - but there will hopefully still be something of interest. Let me know if you have any questions!

I'll attempt to update our trip report thread from time to time, or you can read about it in more detail at our team website or follow us at our facebook page. I still can't believe I'm really doing this...

PS: We're also raising money for two very worthy charities, and we'd love your support. Find out more here.