Solo World Driver Passes Through Malaysia

Solo World Driver Passes Through Malaysia

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Christer Gerlach, the foremost solo driver in the world (according to the Guinness Book of Records), is at it again – this time, the Swedish adventurer-cum-writer is on a 5-month drive around the world in a new Volvo V70 Cross-Country (the latest version of the V70 Estate) and expects to clock over 40,000 kms when he returns home to Sweden on October 1st.

Gerlach started his latest venture on May 4th and his first leg took him southwards through Europe into North Africa and then the on to the Middle East. From there, he drove into Pakistan before crossing into India and his Volvo, which has a sophisticated 4WD system, had to deal with some of the world’s most dangerous roads in that region before he reached Nepal.

From the high altitudes of Nepal, he descended to Calcutta where his car was loaded onto a ship bound for Singapore. From Singapore, he headed north to Thailand and then returned to Singapore.

On his return journey to Singapore, he was honoured with a convoy that escorted him from Kuala Lumpur to Bangi. The convoy, consisting of 30 local Volvo owners who drove vintage models like the P1800 and 122S as well as other drivers with the latest Volvos, was organised by Volvo Car Malaysia in cooperation with the Classic Volvo Club.

The convoy was flagged off from the Volvo showroom in KL and accompanied Gerlach all the way to Bangi. Needless to say, it attracted a lot of attention from other motorists along the KL-Seremban Expressway.

From Singapore, Gerlach’s V70 Cross-Country will be shipped to Australia where he will spend some time driving around before moving on to Japan. After Japan, he will start his return leg from California to New York driving through Mexico and up the east coast of the USA. After crossing the Atlantic Ocean to UK, he will then drive under the English Channel to France and northwards back to Sweden.

Throughout solo his journey, Gerlach has kept in contact with friends using a satellite phone. He has made full use of the Internet to send reports and images which are posted on his website at www.v70xctour.volvocars.com.

Over the years, Gerlach has driven to all corners of the world except the Antarctic. His first long drive was across the Sahara Desert 27 years ago and to date, he has passed through at last 67 countries. In 1998, he drove from the northernmost point of the North American continent to the southernmost point of South America. He has also had the chance to ride a motorcycle on Easter Island, the world’s most isolated island.

When he’s taking one of his long drives, Gerlach spends time in his little village of Stenhamra, near Stockholm in Sweden. He is married with three children and can speak nine languages – including Swahili and Arabic! His daily transporter is a 1969 Volvo Duett and he is considering driving that from London to Sydney.

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