US$1.55 million Tumbler Batmobile ready to race

A Saudi Arabian team has built a replica of Batman's Tumbler for the 15th anniversary Gumball 3000 rally starting on 19 May from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Monte Carlo, Monaco.

The 4800-kilometre (3000-mile) Gumball 3000 rally turns 15 this year, and there are some pretty impressive cars in the mix.

We have an absolutely clear favourite, though. Saudi Arabian Team Galag, two brothers and second-time Gumball 3000 racers, have built something new to the rally table: a scale model of Batman's Tumbler, built by Florida-based bespoke car builder Parker Brothers Concepts, at a cost of around US$1.55 million.

"Every year, the Gumball 3000 plays host to some of the most expensive vehicles in the world," Team Galag said on their web page. "This year it was decided that we wanted to drive something a little more original. Enter the TG1."

Coming in at just under 5.3 metres long and weighing around 2268 kilograms, the road-legal beast of a vehicle isn't just a pretty chassis. Underneath the carbon fibre Batmobile cladding purrs a 750 horsepower twin turbo 3.8L V-6 engine with ceramic brakes and an estimated top speed of 160 kilometres per hour. That's not very high, but the vehicle is very heavy.

There isn't a prize for "winning" the Gumball 3000, but Team Galag has already won something even more precious: our hearts.

If you're going to be in Europe, you can find the rally's schedule on the Gumball 3000 website.

Via www.motorward.com