HOW are you planning to spend the festive period?

A few beers with friends? A generous helping of Christmas pud? Or maybe jumping in a car and risking life and limb travelling 10,000km through the deserts of Africa?

The latter is the option Bolton's Steven Rogers has chosen.

Rogers is a rally driver and on Boxing Day heads to France for the start of the gruelling Arras Madrid Dakar Rally.

It is the second year in a row that the Bolton Snooker Club manager has attempted the race, after retiring on the 14th stage last time due to mechanical problems.

He, along with his friend and navigator Phillip Turner, from Hampshire, will spend 19 days driving throughout the day, spending half the night doing repairs on the vehicle, grabbing a couple of hours kip and then doing the same again the next day.

"It is pretty tiring," admitted Rogers, with more than a touch of understatement.

"But I enjoyed it that much last year that I wanted another go. Plus I want to finish it this year. I'm so determined that I will just carry on driving no matter what state the car is in.

"I'd rather drive the car to destruction than retire this time."

Last year, Rogers, aged 30, was performing brilliantly and in a high position when both the axles bent on his vehicle making it impossible to carry on.

He might not have completed the gruelling course but his excellent performance encouraged sponsors to back him this year, which has enabled him to upgrade his vehicle.

"I am very confident because the sponsor money has allowed us to improve the vehicle," explained Rogers.

"It's a very tough course, from proper rallying in Europe to going over the deserts of Northern Africa, including the Sahara.

"But this time I've had the suspension specially made, the vehicle is lighter and more powerful and I've modified the axles which were the problem last time."

The race isn't just tough, it is dangerous too. Two years ago a competitor died. But that will not deter Steve.

He, along with 150 other vehicles, 200 motorcyclists and 80 trucks will set off just after Christmas.

Steve's girlfriend, Yvonne Starkie, will be at the starting line to wave goodbye.

Then it's down to the serious business. The route takes Steve to places such as the Western Sahara, the giant sand dunes of Mauratania, Almeria, Mali, Senegal and Morocco. There are 20 stages before reaching the end of the road in Dakar.

Traditionally, more cars crash out of the rally than complete it. In 1999, for example, 110 vehicles crossed the finishing line from the 278 that set out.

To win it isn't the aim. Steve will be up against teams like BMW, Toyota and Mitsubish and his aim is just to complete the race.

His vehicle is a Range Rover, with a Land Rover body and a giant V8 General Motors diesel engine from a US Army personnel carrier.

That gives a top speed of well over 100mph but it will be how it copes with the towering dunes and rugged terrain that will be the key.

Steve is confident and can't wait for the challenge to begin.