[komodo]

And the results of the race are in....

Winner of The Spirit of the Gumball Award: Team 76 - Caterham Series 7

The grand finale of the award ceremony was the coveted Spirit of the Gumball Award, which went to the Caterham Girls in their first rally. Sue Bellarby and Kathryn Huddart decided to come on the rally on a whim and bought an open top Caterham 7 just a few days before the start.

The owners of a cleaning agency (Dustintime) had their credit cards and cash stolen in Budapest, forcing them to drive under toll booth barriers for the rest of the route. They broke down seven times between Budapest and Italy and were also stopped seven times for speeding in between (although got away with no fines).

They were "continuously lost", got frozen and completely drenched due to their lack of a roof (someone kindly gave them goggles, which they hadn't even brought). Then two hours out of Sicily their Caterham finally blew up, forcing them to hitch hike th whole length of Italy to Monaco.

As if that wasn't hardcore enough, Sue has volunteered to drive the ice-cream van back to the UK, as it's owners have to go back to the States and Beaulieu Motor Museum want to exhibit it!

Winner of the Cleanest car on the Rally Award: Team 13 - Golf GTI

Cleanest car on the Rally went to fashion designer Mark Eley's tricked out Golf GTI.

Winner of The Gumball Bling Award: Team 80 - Volkswagen Samba

The Gumball Bling Award went to the boys in the pimped out VW Campervan, with Porsche engine and suspension.

Winner of The Tough Guys of Gumball Award: Team 103 - Ford F150 SVT Lightning

Tough Guys of Gumball were former London gangster Dave Courtney and his team, driving an imposing black Ford F150. It's hardly suprising he won when you consider the first line of his autobiography (Stop the Ride; I Want to Get Off') says: "One time, this guy came at with an axe in his hand and murder in his eyes. He was proper annmoyed, let me tell you. Fortunately, I had a sword in my hand. So I stuck it through him".

Winner of The Copilot Navigation Award: Team 61 - Ice Cream Van

The Copilot Navigation Award went to the ice cream van, who managed to complete the entire 3000 mile route with a top speed of 55mph; narrowly missing out on the Spirit of the Gumball.

Winner of the DC Shoes Lifetime Achievement Award: Team ?? - Nissan 350Z

DC Shoes Lifetime Achievement Award went to Carter Healey, who has been on every Gumball 3000,
this year in a Nissan 350Z.

Winner of A Special Award: Team 31 - Lamborghini Murcialago/Mercedes SL55

A special award went to the driver of the Lamborghini Murcielago who was busted at 194mph before he'd got out of the UK. That car was impounded, so he took his Mercedes round the rest of the route, til he blew that up in Italy. He then had his Lambo disempounded and brought to Italy, where hours later he completely wrote it off and had to hitch hike the rest of the way to Monaco. He'd wish to remain anonymous for insurance purposes...more on that story soon.

Winner of the Gumball Enthusiast Award: Team 72 - Lotus Esprit

The Gumball Enthusiast Award went to first timer Mark Muss, who had a slew of problems with his 1994 black Lotus, but stayed totally on top of it and was up the front of the pack every day.

Winner of the Quote of the Rally Award: Big Black - Team 41 - Subaru Impreza WRX STI

Quote of the Rally went to Big Black (but for my safety's sake I'm not putting that online until I've got Big Black's security clearance ha ha!)

Winner of the Best Driver Award: Kim Mazelle

Best Driver went ironically to Kim Mazelle, who has now completed four Gumballs without ever taking the wheel.

Some people have wayyy too much money. I wanna know what that lambo/merc guy does for a living.