EVOLV and Gumball 3000: 
Bringing the Unsung Heroes of the Rally into the Spotlight

Every year, Gumball 3000 captures the attention of automotive enthusiasts around the world. Known for its unique blend of exotic cars, celebrities, influencers, musicians, athletes, and unforgettable road trips, the event has become one of the most recognizable automotive lifestyle rallies on the planet. What started in 1999 as an adventurous road trip has evolved into a global phenomenon that blends automotive culture, entertainment, fashion, music, and social media into a one-of-a-kind experience.

The 2026 edition was no exception.

This year's rally brought together an impressive lineup of personalities, including actress Michelle Rodriguez, best known for her role in the Fast & Furious franchise; Grammy-winning rapper Eve and Gumball 3000 founder Maximillion Cooper; world-famous DJs deadmau5 and Afrojack; former NFL star Jimmy Graham; soccer legend Patrice Evra; rap icon Bun B; Afrobeats pioneer Adekunle Gold; renowned Nigerian artist Slawn; and digital creators Vikkstar and Juca, among many others.

While fans around the world followed the celebrities, the cars, and the journey itself, very few people got to see what happened before the rally officially started.

That is exactly where EVOLV entered the picture.

As an Official Partner of Gumball 3000, EVOLV played a major role in preparing more than 120 participating vehicles for the event. The partnership was about much more than supplying materials. It was about showcasing the creativity, craftsmanship, and dedication of the automotive film industry while giving visibility to the professionals who work behind the scenes to make these incredible vehicles ready for the spotlight.

The partnership was especially meaningful because this year's rally started in Miami, Florida, the hometown of EVOLV, before making its way through the United States and Mexico toward its final destination in Mexico City.

A Partnership Built on Innovation

For EVOLV, a company known for its premium automotive films and Paint Protection Film technologies, partnering with Gumball 3000 represented a natural fit. Both organizations share a passion for innovation, creativity, self-expression, and pushing boundaries.

One of the highlights of the collaboration was the launch of two exclusive Gumball 3000 Edition Paint Protection Film colors developed specifically for the event.

Satin British Rally Blue pays tribute to the heritage of British motorsports and the origins of Gumball 3000 itself.

Gloss World Cup White celebrates the international spirit that has defined the rally for more than two decades.

But developing special-edition products was only one part of EVOLV's involvement.

Preparing More Than 120 Rally Cars

One of EVOLV's primary responsibilities was overseeing the production and installation of the official Gumball 3000 decals and graphics for more than 120 vehicles participating in the rally.

While spectators only see the finished result, preparing over one hundred vehicles for an event of this magnitude requires an enormous amount of planning and coordination.

Vehicles arrive from different countries and cities. Every owner has different schedules, requirements, and customization needs. Materials must be produced, sorted, tracked, and installed within strict timelines while maintaining the quality standards expected by both Gumball 3000 and the vehicle owners themselves.

Many of the cars involved are exotic, luxury, or highly customized vehicles worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Precision and attention to detail are not optional.

The result was a massive operation involving logistics, production, quality control, installation management, and teamwork on a scale rarely seen within the wrap and PPF industry.

Why PPF Has Become Essential for Gumball 3000

One of the most interesting observations from this year's event was the overwhelming adoption of Paint Protection Film.

More than 90% of the vehicles participating in the rally were protected with either clear PPF, color PPF, or the newest generation of printable PPF solutions.

For an event like Gumball 3000, this level of protection has become almost mandatory.

Participants drive thousands of miles across different climates, road conditions, and environments. During the rally, vehicles are exposed to rock chips, road debris, insects, harsh weather, UV exposure, and the everyday abuse that comes with long-distance driving.

Owners are no longer willing to risk damaging valuable paintwork during the event.

Clear PPF provides a virtually invisible protective layer that helps preserve the original finish while absorbing impacts and reducing paint damage.

Color PPF has become increasingly popular because it allows owners to completely transform the appearance of their vehicles while maintaining the ability to return to the factory paint underneath.

Perhaps the most exciting development is the rapid growth of printable PPF.

Printable PPF combines the protection benefits of Paint Protection Film with the creative possibilities traditionally associated with printed wraps. For an event built around individuality, personality, and visual impact, this technology is a perfect match.

Participants can create custom graphics, sponsor liveries, artwork, and unique designs while still benefiting from the impact resistance, self-healing properties, and long-term protection that PPF offers.

In many ways, printable PPF represents the future of automotive customization because it removes the traditional compromise between protection and creativity.

For Gumball 3000 participants, that combination is incredibly valuable.

Bringing Together the Wrap Community

To complete the installations, EVOLV assembled an international network of wrap and PPF professionals from the United States and Europe.

The installation teams involved included:

• Black Diamond Tint & Protection
• Denar Garage
• DrWrapitUp
• Italica
• Morgan Wraps
• Pride Detailing
• Super 7 Custom Cars
• The Wrap Shed
• Von Wraps
• Wrap Innovations

The project brought together shops from the United States, Spain, Italy, and the United Kingdom, creating a truly international collaboration focused on preparing vehicles for one of the world's most recognized automotive events.

Inside the installation facility, teams worked side by side, sharing ideas, supporting one another, and helping ensure every vehicle was ready before heading to the starting line.

The project became a reflection of the wrap industry's global nature, proving that language, geography, and borders disappear when passionate professionals come together around a common goal.

Showing the World What Happens Behind the Scenes

One of EVOLV's biggest objectives throughout the partnership was to showcase a side of Gumball 3000 that most people never see.

The automotive film industry is often invisible to the public. Fans admire the finished cars, the stunning graphics, and the incredible color combinations, but they rarely witness the countless hours of preparation that happen before a vehicle reaches the spotlight.

This year, EVOLV made a conscious effort to change that.

Rather than focusing only on the finished vehicles, the company documented the entire preparation process, highlighting the installers, designers, technicians, production specialists, and coordinators responsible for transforming the cars before the rally began.

The goal was simple: give recognition to the people whose work plays a critical role in creating the visual identity of Gumball 3000.

Content Creation and Storytelling

Helping bring that vision to life were Chelsea Gunnels (@chelsegunnels) and Luis from Track Creativo (@trackcreativo).

Both played important roles not only in vehicle preparation but also in documenting the experience from the inside.

Their content captured the long days, the teamwork, the challenges, the vehicle reveals, and the excitement leading up to the official launch of the rally.

Through photos, videos, interviews, and behind-the-scenes coverage, they helped tell the story of the people behind the cars rather than focusing solely on the cars themselves.

Their work gave fans a rare look into an industry that often receives little attention despite being responsible for many of the visual elements that make events like Gumball 3000 so memorable.

Looking Ahead

While the 2026 rally marked the beginning of EVOLV's partnership with Gumball 3000, both organizations are already focused on the future.

Planning is already underway for next year's rally, which is expected to start in Seoul, South Korea, and finish in Tokyo, Japan.

The upcoming route promises another extraordinary opportunity to showcase automotive culture, innovation, creativity, and the latest developments in vehicle customization and paint protection technologies.

For EVOLV, this year was only the first chapter.

The success of the Miami-to-Mexico City rally demonstrated the value of bringing visibility to an industry that traditionally operates behind the scenes. While fans will remember the celebrities, the supercars, and the incredible destinations, EVOLV hopes they will also remember the talented professionals whose craftsmanship made those vehicles possible.

Because behind every unforgettable Gumball 3000 car is a team of installers, designers, creators, and technicians whose work deserves to be recognized.

And thanks to this partnership, their story finally became part of the journey.