Expedition Through 12 Countries: Mike Horn and the G-Class -- Two Extreme Athletes Reach the Legendary K2
 Mike Horn during a drivers lesson with the G-Class in Graz on April 22, 2015 |
STUTTGART -- June 12, 2015:
15 days, 12 countries, 10,640 kilometres – in a Mercedes-Benz
G-Class the adventurer and extreme sportsman Mike Horn has
driven from Switzerland right through inhospitable regions in eastern
Europe and central Asia to Pakistan. In the city of Skardu the second part
of the expedition "Drive 2 Climb 2 Ski K2" begins: The Mercedes-Benz Brand
Ambassador and his team, the Alpinists Fred Roux and Köbi Reichen, will
climb the 8611-metre mountain K2. The trio plan to be the world's first
Alpinists to complete the subsequent descent from the world's
second-highest mountain mainly on skis. The aim of the expedition is to
draw attention to the most remote regions of the world and the beauty of
this planet. The entire journey can be followed on the digital and social
media channels of Mike Horn and Mercedes-Benz.
"Everybody should know what the world looks like, so that
the desire arises to protect it. Accordingly I could hardly wait to set off
on this new challenge. Normally I do not use vehicles on my adventures. But
this time the Mercedes-Benz G-Class made it possible for me to reach even
the remotest areas. The off-road capability and innovative technology of
this car are simply unbelievable. The car is my perfect, motorised alter
ego," says Mike Horn. On 14 May 2015 he started off on his K2 expedition
from Château-d’Oex in Switzerland. On the way to the Hindu Kush the
extreme sportsman took the cult vehicle amongst off-roaders through
Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Tajikistan, Kirgizistan, China and Pakistan. The G-Class has been an
ongoing success story for over 35 years, as it allows mobility at the
very limits. Its compactness, ground clearance and off-road performance are
unrivalled. It even remains undeterred by 100% gradients, 54 percent
inclines and water up to 60 centimetres deep.
Follow the journey online
At #DrivenToExplore Mike Horn continuously reports on the
progress of his adventure, his experiences in the different countries and
how the G-Class performs at the very limits. With the help of an
interactive map, fans of Mike Horn and Mercedes-Benz can see at any time
where the adventurer is presently located and what he is currently
experiencing. The adventure can be followed by anybody who posts a photo of
his/her best DrivenToExplore moments under the hashtag #DrivenToExplore
#GWagon on Twitter or Instagram. The best photo will receive a prize.
Mercedes-Benz and Mike Horn have been partners for
many years. "We admire and support the mission of Mike Horn to raising
people's awareness to the most remote regions of our planet. With the
G-class we provided Mike Horn with the ideal partner for this expedition"
says Dr. Jens Thiemer, Vice President Marketing Mercedes-Benz Cars. Most
recently Mercedes-Benz gave its support to the PANGAEA expedition. From
2008 to 2012 Mike Horn sailed around the world, initiating ecological and
social projects together with young people at various stages under the
guiding theme of "Explore. Learn. Act." More than 100 follow-up projects
have meanwhile been generated.