The trip of the Willis Expedition.

While most 19-year-old guys are spending their days partying, Parker Liautaud has recently set a record crosscountry skiing across Antarctica. Liautard set the record for reaching the South Pole from the coast of the icy continent in a time of 18 days, 4 hours and 43 minutes. He was followed closely by a custom Toyota Hilux that acted as a support vehicle.

The expedition was known as the Willis Resilience, as it was sponsored by Willis, a global risk advisory company. The Hilux was built by Arctic Trucks of Iceland who have been building vehicles that operate in the harshest of environments since 1990. Arctic Trucks workshop manager Eyjólfur Már Teitsson was also the driver and infield mechanic during the expedition.

Arctic Trucks took an ordinary Hilux and transformed it into a 6×6 ice crossing machine. They did this by extending the wheelbase of the truck, installing an extra rear axle and throwing on six enormous 44-inch tires to help cross the hostile Antarctic terrain. The Hilux was given the long range fuel capacity of 650 litters.

The cockpit was modified into a mobile communication center on wheels. It was equipped with its own WiFi and radio equipment so it could broadcast Liautaud’s trek across the most dangerous terrain to the world. It’s also equipped with meteorological equipment to study the Antarctic weather.

We are impressed by this Herculean machine as it was able to cross the most rugged terrain in the world in sub-zero weather. Though we have to say we are more impressed by Liautaud who had to battle the elements with just his skis.