Melina Frey (26), who lives and works in Cape Town, and her German co-driver, Alexandra Hahn, were the first all-female team to finish the event after two weeks of traversing a challenging route from Moscow to the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator.

In addition, the pair finished second in Class 2A for 4x4 vehicles with diesel engines of up to 3,0 litres, behind their Suzuki Europe team-mates, Andreas Kramer and Kurt Ettenberger, in an identical three-door Suzuki Vitara DDiS.

Importantly, the rally regulations allow only minor changes to be made to the vehicles, which means they compete in near-standard trim.

In the overall standings, the Suzuki girls finished in 14th place, with the Kramer/Ettberger Suzuki Grand Vitara two places ahead, in 12th spot overall.

The event was won by Christian Lavieille and Francois Borsotto in their Team France Porsche Cayenne S Trans Siberia.

Only 23 of the original 34 starters were classified as finishers of the tough event, which tests the driving skills, initiative, navigation and vehicle knowledge of the participants to the limit.

Run on public roads, much of the emphasis is on precision and all-terrain prowess.

Frey, who was born in South Africa after her parents immigrated here from Germany, is a paramedic and personal bodyguard who also trains aspiring bodyguards in the unusual art of personal protection. Together with navigator Hahn, the novice pair took on the challenge of competing against an experienced field of participants, many of whom are motorsport professionals. And the Grand Vitaras were up against some stiff competition.

With 26 of the 34 entrants opting for Porsche’s mighty, specially equipped Cayenne S Trans Siberia all-terrainer, the Suzukis seemed to be at a disadvantage. Besides these massively powerful and much quicker SUVs, the field also included Land Rover Defenders, a Toyota Land Cruiser, a Nissan Pathfinder, a Mitsubishi Pajero, and a Mercedes-Benz G-class.

After 14 days of long-distance competition, special tasks and often arduous navigation, the Suzuki Grand Vitara team had proven its mettle against some of the fastest vehicles and most experienced crews in marathon racing.

“It was exciting, thrilling, challenging and generally wonderful,” Frey said at the finish. “Mongolia and its people are simply fantastic. I had a lot of fun driving the Grand Vitara. It was a super experience.”

What makes Frey’s achievement particularly impressive is her almost complete lack of experience. She had never before competed in a marathon cross-country event, although she is an off-road enthusiast.

“I tried to spend as much time as possible behind the wheel of the family 4x4 in the bush before leaving to compete in the event, and I practised tackling difficult obstacles. But nothing could prepare me for the reality of the event. It was quite incredible.”

Frey attributes her good performance to her background in emergency medicine and the personal security industry.

“I’m used to working under extreme conditions, where giving up simply isn’t an option. I have a never-say-die attitude that has become a way of life for me. Yes, we were an inexperienced team, but we gave it everything we had – and that makes this result so rewarding.”

Dominik Eiland, group leader for product and dealer marketing at Suzuki International Europe, says the Grand Vitaras came into their own in some of the toughest terrain imaginable.

“While a third of the participants failed to finish, our Grand Vitaras not only reached Ulan Bator, but earned four top-ten places in the Mongolian special stages, which were considered the toughest of the event. That’s a fitting tribute to the tough durability of the Grand Vitara.” – (Correspondent)