A group of trainees from component manufacturer MEYLE are to take on a unique rally challenge in a virtually indestructible W124 Mercedes Benz.

Designed in the 1990s, this reliable, fuel-efficient Mercedes is renowned for its durability something that made 21-year-old Niklas Arndt, business administration trainee at MEYLE think it is "Exactly the car one would need to brave a rally across West Africa," He convinced his employer to back the project and will be one of the adventurers taking on the "Dust & Diesel" rally challenge to be held 28 December 2016 to 15 January 2017.

What makes this project so special is that all trainees at MEYLE have worked together under the expert guidance of the MEYLE engineers to increase the vehicle's robustness using MEYLE premium quality parts. Fitted with particularly durable components, this modern "ship of the desert" is expected to easily meet the challenges along the way from Morocco across Mauritania into Senegal, the final destination, where the car will be auctioned off for a good cause.

"We are very proud of the dedication and the high level of initiative our trainees are showing", said Marita Schwartze, Member of the Board and Head of HR at MEYLE. "We knew right away that we wanted to give Niklas and his idea our full support and now we can't wait for the rally to start."

In preparation for the rally, the Mercedes Benz W124 young classic has been fitted with top-grade glow plugs, engine mounts, suspension strut bearings, shock absorbers and control arms, all from the MEYLE product range. The vehicle also features components from the MEYLE-HD product line, which are engineered in-house to outperform their OE equivalents.