A 77-year-old German pensioner has set off on a two year tour of the world in her vintage American “Hudson” car.

Heidi Hetzer, who is a trained mechanic and a rally driver plans to visit 56 countries including China, Iran and the Andes in South America.

She says she wants to “get to know” the people as she travels through.

Hetzer competed in her first race on a Lambretta motor scooter when she was 16 and has taken part in most of the major rally races around the world.