TWO amateur racers will try to cross France in a pair of cheap second-hand cars – and will then leave the vehicles as a tip for a waiter.

The bizarre charity bid will see Aaron Phull and rival Carl Jackson lead rally teams from Calais in northern France to Barcelona in northern Spain, in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

The three-day rally will see them travel around 660 miles, across the Pyrenees, while completing a series of “Top Gear-esque” challenges.

Between them, the objective is to raise around £5,000 to fight the condition.

And Mr Jackson has a very personal reason for getting involved.

The 30-year-old businessman, of St Austell Way, Church Ward, said: “My younger brother is a sufferer of it. It’s a muscular wasting disorder which bound him to a wheelchair from an early age.

“From our point of view it’ll be a good experience, so there’s a selfish angle.

“We do all care for my little brother, and there are a lot of families out there who aren’t as well off to be able to look after them. These funds go towards supporting people as well as research for a cure.”

He said the disease will “dramatically shorten life”, and leaves sufferers like his 28-year-old brother Ben so weak they cannot even lift their pint on a trip to the pub.

On the fundraising rally, taking place in May 19 Mr Jackson is taking charge of two teams, and Mr Phull is taking one.

But as part of their challenge, they have had to purchase their vehicles for less than £500.

Mr Phull, 26 and from Somerdale Close, Westlea, has opted for a Volvo bought from Ebay for his team, which he has dubbed Top Goon.

He said the rally will involve daily challenges, such as having to find and photograph 20 old French churches.

And at the end they will have a surprise for some cafe staff - leaving the car as a tip.

He said: “It was a toss up between that and the cost of the fuel and the tolls to get it back. It would be almost not worth it.

“A lot of teams just dump their cars or scrap them.

“But I think it’d be a nice gesture, just to give it away.

“It’s got to be someone who’s polite, and looks like they could do with a break; someone who’d appreciate the gift.”

He advised anyone wanting to donate to their fundraising efforts go to justgiving.com/teamtopgoon.