A BASINGSTOKE man has completed an incredible challenge by driving an iconic Indian Tuk Tuk for 1,000km in India.

Andy Warner, from Wayside Road, drove alongside Elaine Theaker, a retired lawyer from Wales, to complete the arduous journey in The Tamil Nadu 1,000km Auto Rickshaw race.

The two adventurers, who are also members of an ocean row team named Team Flyin’ Fish, completed the journey over five days and came out as the winners.

Andy, a Class One HGV driver in the UK, said driving through Indian roads was the most incredible experience of the race.

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“The difference in driving in India is absolutely a pole apart from what I was used to,” Andy said after getting back to Basingstoke.

“I have rowed the Atlantic Ocean in 2015, which is considered to be quite hardcore and dangerous. And this event in India was meant to be a bit of fun. But it was like danger lurking around literally every corner. We had about 1,000 near misses, near-death experiences. So it was more dangerous than what was planned, but also rewarding in a way. It was a real cultural eye-opener.”

Andy and Elaine drove through various districts over five days and returned to Chennai after visiting some of the iconic temples in South India.

He called them “absolutely breathtaking”.

Andy and Elaine will now rejoin the rest of their rowing team as they prepare to take part in the inaugural Pacific rowing race which starts on June 12 next year.

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The team of four ocean row veterans are preparing for the race that will leave Monterey, California and will finish in Nawiliwili harbour, Kauai, The Hawaiian Islands, after rowing some 4,500km completely unsupported.

Only 80 people have ever previously rowed from the US mainland to the Hawaiian islands over the deepest, most hostile ocean notorious for huge seas.

The other members of the team are Alison Wannell (skipper) from Chagford in Devon and Neil Blackeby from Camelford in Cornwall.

The team is also raising funds for the Air Ambulance UK.

For more information about the team, go to facebook.com/TeamFlyinFish.