A PAIR of determined drivers defied the odds and survived an epic 1,500-mile four-day trip across Europe in a banger.

Charlie Evans, 40, of Mold, and 42-year-old Stuart Wilkinson, from Northop Hall, finished the CzechWrecks banger rally in aid of a children’s hospice in their second-hand 1996 Vauxhall Astra – done up with a paint job to emulate Starsky and Hutch’s Gran Torino.

Charlie said the drive from Calais to Prague was epic but enjoyable.

He said: “It was a long way and quite tiring. The biggest worry was the car overheating but we took it nice and slow. It would have been easy to break the car.

“The roads in the Czech Republic are very different from western Europe. The main roads do not even have centre lines.”

They started with a mammoth 550-mile dash from Calais to Interlaken in Switzerland and that was followed by a day of driving through mountain passes before arriving in Bormio in the Italian Alps.

Charlie said: “We then hit the infamous Stelvio Pass. That was a highlight. What an experience that was, our car made it to the top ok, but few of the bangers were stopping due to overheating problems. The views were breathtaking. It was pristine scenery. We wish we had more time to take it in.”

The pair continued their journey passing through Austria before arriving in the Czech Republic.

“As we saw the miles to our destination falling there was a growing feeling of excitement that we were going to complete this mad challenge,” said Charlie.

“On arrival there was a victory parade in Wenceslas Square with teams celebrating their achievements. A few beers and final farewells to our new friends and it was all over.”

Their trusty Vauxhall, bought from a friend for £120, was then given away for scrap and Charlie and Stuart took a flight back to the UK.

More than £1,000 has been raised for Hope House in Oswestry and you can donate at www.justgiving.com/czechwreckcharlie.