Gumball 3000 is not just the world’s largest supercar rally, it’s a test of endurance for its members, young and old alike. Covering 3,000 miles or 4,828 km, the rally averages 600 km per day over 8 days. This 25th edition faced challenges, including a nightmarish route from Cambodia to Thailand, riddled with potholes and construction works…
However, whether one is a supercar enthusiast or not, the Gumball 3000 2024 convoy received a warm welcome wherever it went. The impression of the world’s largest supercar rally on its 25th journey was not just about the people and customs of each country, but also the roads traveled.
In Vietnam, the starting point and the country where the members spent the most time, hospitality was on full display. Some members of the convoy, when buying bottled water but forgetting to change their money to VND, were gifted drinks, snacks, and warmly welcomed by Vietnamese drivers as if they were family.
As the convoy moved from Binh Duong to Le Loi Boulevard, they were constantly followed by dozens of people taking photos, acting as guides, and even trespassing or climbing trees to get the best shots of their dream supercars. Despite some accidental bumps into the cars that annoyed a few members, the beautiful images captured by the crowd, who formed two lines and always made way for the convoy, were plentiful.
As the journey coincided with a severe storm in Northern Vietnam, the reception for the Gumball 3000 2024 guests couldn’t be as lively as for other events. However, Vietnam’s representative, businessman Dang Le Nguyen Vu, displayed his hospitality by increasing the donation from 50,000 to 200,000 British Pounds, along with a fleet of nearly 20 cars, as a token of appreciation for choosing Ho Chi Minh City for their promotional tour.
No individual in any other country along the Gumball 3000 route could match such a grand welcome with a personal car fleet.
In Cambodia, nearly 300 supercars from local enthusiasts gathered to welcome the convoy—the largest gathering in any country along the Gumball 3000 2024 route. Some members were deeply impressed by the polite and grateful children they met, as well as the marching band of students who greeted them at the border and the hundreds of schoolchildren who waved from the roadside as the convoy passed by a school.
In Thailand, although the locals showed great interest in Gumball 3000 2024, the number of cars welcoming the convoy was disappointingly small, with only three representatives: a Lamborghini Diablo, a Lamborghini Revuelto, and a Porsche 911 GT2 RS. Nonetheless, the beautiful roads and the friendliness of the Thai people ensured a comfortable experience for the Gumball 3000 2024 members.
The only incident occurred when a member of the convoy unknowingly paid with two counterfeit $50 bills while refueling. This caused the Gumball 3000 2024 convoy to be temporarily detained at the border checkpoint with Malaysia, but the issue was eventually resolved, and the group continued their journey, enjoying the beautiful roads and the Sepang circuit in Malaysia.
