Dumball: Idiots in India

In this first episode of a brand new series, 130 mad motorists get given the keys to 36 Hindustan Ambassadors, which they must personalise and decorate, before departing on the first leg of a 1300km endurance rally across India. But as the drivers attempt to drive on the Indian roads for the first time, they run into a few problems.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. For the first leg of this banger rally, the teams are in a race to get to the hotel in Madurai. They’re in for a shock as they get used to driving on the Indian roads, where it appears to be optional to use indicators, stay within lane markings and drive on the right side of the road. Team ‘The Lost Khakis’ suffer car problems, and have to ditch their car by the roadside. But can their car be mended ready for the next day?

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. For the second leg of this banger rally, as the teams drive from Madurai to Trivandrum, the teams are challenged to take photos of two rare Indian creatures; a cat and an Indian adult man without a moustache. The Yellow squadron decide to stop on a motorway to play a game of cricket, and we host the first rolling pub quiz.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. On the third leg of this banger rally, the teams travel from Trivandrum to Cochin. As they enter the state of Kerala, they must complete part of the journey on a traditional Indian Houseboat. But to be allowed onto the boat, they must purchase a nautical accessory on route.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. On the forth leg of this banger rally, the teams travel from Cochin to Coimbatore, through the Talamalai nature reserve. Their mission for the day is to try and photograph the big five; wild boar, deer, monkeys, tigers and elephants.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. On the fifth leg of this banger rally, the teams drive from Coimbatore to Mysore. Their challenge for the day is to see how many members of their squadron they can cram into a traditional TukTuk. But is it the end of the line for team ‘Full English Breakfast’ when their car breaks down on the notorious mountain pass?

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. On the sixth leg of this banger rally, the teams depart on their journey from Mysore to Mangalore. With three possible routes to take to get to their destination, the Blue squadron bravely take the scenic rural route. But they soon start to regret it when they find the bridge over the river they need to cross is still under construction.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. The drivers are on the sixth leg of the rally, heading to Mangalore. But as a thank you to their host country for the last week, they must get involved with the locals in some way. The blue squadron decide to play games with some of the local children, whilst the White team visit an Indian Fire Station.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai To Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. The drivers are on the final leg of the rally, and after seven days of solid driving they will eventually arrive at their destination, Goa. But along the way they must pick up some party shoes to wear at the arrival party. As the teams enter the last 20km, the ‘Bass Bandits’ car is plagued with problems and has to be pushed over the finish line.

130 mad motorists drive 1300km across India from Chennai to Goa in clapped out Hindustan Ambassadors. At the end of a solid week of driving, we award the teams with some very deserved awards and take a look back over some of the best bits. Includes the ‘Sh***y Sh***ty Bang Bang’ award for the team who had the first breakdown, the ‘Tin Westwood’ award for best decorated car and we reveal who has picked up the most points and is the recipient of the Idiots In India Cup.

The Dumball is the world’s ultimate banger rally. Where mad-cap motorists take cars that have seen better days and drive them as far as they can in just one week. In this episode, we take a look at some of the best bits from the Dumball’s ten-year history, including some of the worst breakdowns, times when the Dumballers get lost, and moments where the come up against a language barrier.

The Dumball is the world’s ultimate banger rally. Where mad-cap motorists take cars that have seen better days and drive them as far as they can in just one week. In this episode, we take a look at some of the best bits from the Dumball’s ten-year history, including some of the ultimate challenges, some of the most beautiful locations and some of the cars catastrophic failures.