More than a hundred exceptional cars crossed southern France and the A9 motorway on Thursday 25 September as part of the Gumball 3000, that well-known urban road-trip.
The Gumball 3000 cars, “the craziest race in the world,” drove along the A9 and through the Pyrénées-Orientales.
You may have noticed. There were plenty of people on Thursday 25 September on the overpasses above the A9 and near the toll booths. For several hours many onlookers gathered, cameras in hand, to admire a rather rare “show”: the passage of the Gumball 3000, considered by some to be “the craziest race in the world.” Here’s what happened.
The Gumball 3000 on the A9
Ferrari, McLaren, Aston Martin, Lamborghini, Porsche and even Maserati… If you were traveling on the A9 this Thursday, you may have encountered one or several of these outstanding cars. All bearing various emblems similar to those seen on rally cars, these exceptional vehicles are part of a very particular event: the Gumball 3000.
Created in 1999, this urban rally—or rather this road-trip—consists of covering 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) in under a week, across a continent, and on public roads used by any motorist. Participants, who must pay a hefty fee to join the convoy, are informed of the race route at the last minute.
A race that fascinates
And this year, for its 26th edition, the Gumball 3000 set its course in Europe with a route from Istanbul (Turkey) to Ibiza (Spain), including a stopover gathering in Nice (France) on Wednesday 24 September.
On Thursday, the roughly one hundred cars taking part in the event were due to head toward Spain and Valencia for the final days of the route, using the A9 motorway. In the Pyrénées-Orientales, shortly before reaching the large toll barrier at Le Boulou and the border, a car enthusiast was able to watch the “show” from a bridge. He shared numerous photos.
The participants then made a stop in Catalonia at the Can Roquet restaurant near Girona. They will travel to Valencia and then Ibiza this weekend to conclude the 2025 edition.
But known for its excesses
Since its inception, the Gumball 3000 has delighted lovers of fine automobiles, but it has also been marked by excesses and tragic incidents. In addition to frequent speeding on public roads, accidents have occurred — notably in 2007, when the event was halted after the deaths of two people.
Contacted by authorities, the Pyrénées-Orientales authorities indicate that no speeding or dangerous behavior was recorded on Thursday 25 September during the passage of the Gumball 3000 cars.
See also: Classic Cars Abandoned at Marssac-sur-Tarn Finally Crushed and Removed
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