There are road trips, there are rallies, and then there is Gumball 3000. Part supercar run, part global festival, part endurance challenge and part rolling celebration, Gumball has built a reputation over more than two decades as one of the world’s most recognisable automotive lifestyle events! Founded by Maximillion Cooper in 1999, it has become famous for bringing together supercars, celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists and adventurers for a week-long cross-border journey unlike anything else in motoring.
This year I returned to the grid for the first time since 2016 and once again had the opportunity to experience it from the inside, driving from Istanbul to Ibiza. It turned out to be one of the most memorable and surreal weeks I have ever had behind the wheel. Our adventure started well before the official launch line. To take part properly, we shipped two vehicles from Ireland to Turkey using Gumball’s logistics partner CARS. The first was a 2021 Ford GT, a machine that needs no introduction. The second was an INEOS Grenadier, which would serve as our support vehicle and, as it turned out, our trusted companion for most of the trip. Once the cars arrived safely, we flew into Istanbul, completed registration, met fellow entrants and soaked up the atmosphere. Even before the engines fired, it was clear this was going to a be a week we wouldn’t forget.
The energy at the start in Istanbul was electric. Hundreds of people lined the streets to see the cars, from hypercars and classics to wildly customised SUVs and one-off builds. The city itself provided an unforgettable backdrop, where East meets West in dramatic style. Then came the moment everyone waits for: the start or whats called the Gumball flag drop. Wristbands on, route loaded, passports ready and engines running, we were off on the journey of a lifetime. From Istanbul, the route carried us north-west to Bucharest, the first of many long-haul driving days. This is where the reality of Gumball kicks in. While the parties and glamorous photos get the headlines, participants earn every finish line. Some days meant up to ten hours on the road, crossing borders, navigating traffic, staying focused and then arriving in time to clean up and head straight out again. It is exhilarating, exhausting and addictive in equal measure.
From Romania we continued through Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia, each country bringing a new flavour, new roads and new scenery. One of the joys of Gumball is the sheer variety. In one day you might be threading through busy city streets, and the next you are carving across mountain roads with a convoy of exotic machinery stretching into the distance. Every fuel stop becomes an event. Every hotel arrival feels like a premiere. Every border crossing becomes a story. Where else could you share the road the delightful Pagani Huayra or Gordon Murrays incredible T50! I spent most of the rally in the Grenadier alongside my good friend and long time rally partner Ronnie Browne, while Ed piloted the Ford GT. The Grenadier proved itself brilliantly! Comfortable, dependable and full of character, it was exactly the right vehicle for the realities of such a demanding trip with all the essential supplies on board. That said, it was not entirely drama-free! We lost the air conditioning on day one, which became increasingly noticeable as temperatures climbed and the kilometres piled on. To make matters worse, I was stung on the neck by a wasp, almost certainly invited in by our decision to keep the windows down. At the time it felt like bad luck but looking back, it is now one of those moments that only adds to the legend of the week.
While the Grenadier did the heavy lifting, I was lucky enough to enjoy a few stints in the Ford GT, and they were unforgettable. Nothing quite prepares you for the theatre of that car on public roads. It looks like it belongs in a museum or on a poster, yet here it was charging across Europe as part of the rally. The highlight was getting behind the wheel at Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Driving the GT on the trackway at Misano, one of Europe’s great circuits, was a genuine bucket-list experience. Hearing the engine echo around the circuit and feeling the car come alive in its natural habitat was something we will never forget. As the days rolled on, we passed through Italy, France and finally into Spain. By this stage the rally develops a rhythm all of its own. Sleep becomes optional. Suitcases remain half packed. You wake up in one country and go to bed in another. Yet somehow the adrenaline, camaraderie and anticipation keep you moving. That is one of the hidden strengths of Gumball: the people. Yes, the cars are spectacular, but the real magic comes from the mix of personalities. Throughout the week you meet incredibly talented and influential people from all over the world. Entrepreneurs, musicians, athletes, creators and genuine characters all brought together by a shared love of cars and adventure. Conversations that might never happen in normal life happen naturally at breakfast, at checkpoints or in hotel lobbies at 2am. It is a melting pot of ambition, creativity and fun.
Then came the grand finale in Ibiza. After the miles, the borders and the sleep deprivation, arriving on the island felt like crossing a finish line in every sense. The celebrations were exactly as wild as you would imagine. We ended the trip at UNVRS Ibiza for an incredible night headlined by David Guetta, before moving on to a private mansion party in the hills of Ibiza the following night. It was the perfect ending to a week that had already exceeded every expectation. So what is Gumball 3000 really like? It is glamorous, chaotic, tiring, exciting, ridiculous and unforgettable. It tests your stamina as much as your driving. It gives you stories that last a lifetime. And it reminds you that sometimes the best experiences come from saying yes to something outrageous. Then, just like that, it was all over. We flew home, unpacked the bags, caught up on sleep and tried to return to normal life. But after crossing nine countries in one week, normal life feels a little different!
