INEOS Grenadier Owner Completes 28,254-Mile Expedition
Becky Kim's unsupported, 122-day trek from Kenya to London crossed more than 60 countries & put INEOS Grenadier's off-road capabilities to the test…
INEOS Grenadier owner and enthusiast Becky Kim has completed an unforgettable expedition in her Grenadier, leaving Nairobi on Feb. 13 and travelling through more than 60 countries to end her journey at The Grenadier Pub in Belgravia, London, on June 12, company officials stated in a press release.
28,254 Miles, 60 Countries
Clocking 28,254 miles over the course of 122 days, Kim, with the help of codriver/navigator Bonnie Koko, departed eastern Africa for South Africa’s Southern Cape and piloted the Grenadier back up the western coast across extreme terrains ranging from the harsh, dry climates of the Kalahari, Namibia and Sahara deserts to the bracing icy temperatures of the Arctic Circle.
The expedition was completed without any expert intervention, relying only on traditional mapping. For each of the countries crossed, a commemorative flag was added to the rear windscreen, including Mozambique, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Republic of the Congo, Bulgaria, Greece, Switzerland and Denmark.
According to the release, it is believed that Kim is the first woman from Kenya to drive Cape to Cape, traversing over 28,000 miles from Cape Agulhas in South Africa, the southernmost point of Africa, to Nordkapp in Norway, the northernmost point of Europe. The pair then travelled back down to London to visit The Grenadier pub via meeting the High Commissioner to Kenya at the Kenyan Embassy.
Speaking about the journey, Kim said, “I can truly testify that INEOS have built the Grenadier to last a lifetime of adventure. I like to call it ‘The Wagon of Wonder.’ From the BFGoodrich tires to its overall capability, it copes tremendously. The car draws interest wherever it goes, and I’m very grateful for the support from Jack at Wootton Automotive in Kenya (the supplying dealer) and Gilles (INEOS Automotive’s Business Manager in Africa).”
The Unmodified Grenadier
Kim’s own Grenadier Trialmaster was unmodified and relied solely on its standard locking differentials (center + front & rear axles), raised air intake, BFGoodrich T/A K02 all-terrain tires and BMW B57 diesel engine for the expedition. INEOS Automotive has strategically mapped its support network to cover the iconic route through Africa, enabling simple planning around routine service requirements for extreme explorers.
Jonathan Hill, CMO at INEOS Automotive, commented, “We congratulate Becky on this remarkable achievement, another epic adventure undertaken by a customer with an out-of-the-box Grenadier. To do something like this without a support crew is impressive. That’s one hell of a drive for a pint.”
