Introducing: The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2 Made For The “Road to the World Cup”
I can’t help it, but every time I read something about the brand and rally Gumball 3000, I think of the 1981 action-comedy The Cannonball Run, with Burt Reynolds, Dom DeLuise, Roger Moore, and, of course, the dazzling Farrah Fawcett. The hilarious movie, which might feel a bit outdated if you watch it today, was actually inspired by true events. The story is loosely based on the 1979 edition of the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash. That was a real-life cross-country outlaw road race that began in Connecticut and ended in California. Now, the Gumball 3000 rally does have something to do with the real Cannonball Trophy Dash. But along with going deeper into that, let me introduce you to the Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2 made for the 2026 edition of the race, named the “Road to the World Cup.”
What I didn’t know is that there’s a movie called The Gumball Rally. The comedic action (B) movie was released in 1976, starring actors I’ve never heard of. Anyway, the Gumball 3000 draws direct inspiration from the outlaw cross-country races of the 1970s organized by Brock Yates, as well as the film The Gumball Rally. Maximillion Cooper organized the first Gumball 3000 in 1999. Since then, it has embraced the original spirit of long-distance “racing,” exotic cars, and a glamorous, rule-challenging attitude. However, unlike its predecessors, modern Gumball 3000 editions are officially structured as non-competitive motor rallies or road trips rather than timed races. Still, the Gumball is pretty wild. And so is the Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2.
The Ulysse Nardin Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2 is made for the “Road to the World Cup”
Unlike the illegal races of the past, the current Gumball 3000, a 3,000-mile rally, is defined less by speed than by the journey itself. Consider it an adventurous road trip that brings together artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, and cultural icons. This year, the Gumball 3000 returns to North America with the “Road to the World Cup.” It’s a seven-day route from Miami to Mexico City, passing through Amelia Island, New Orleans, Austin, Monterrey, and San Miguel de Allende. Featuring 100 carefully selected cars and supported by host cities and global partners, the rally becomes a traveling festival of car culture, music, and live events. The journey culminates with VIP access to the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026 at the XXL Estadio Azteca.
And Ulysse Nardin made a watch for the race. It’s the black-and-orange Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2, a timepiece with a name and a look that mirrors the rally’s spirit.
A Freak with a crown, but a freak no less
The crownless Freak has been around since 2001. And since its debut, each iteration has turned heads due to its unconventional look. Even a Freak X with a crown is a special creature. The Freak X is a sleeker, more everyday expression of the classic Freak. That was a trailblazing timepiece that could be considered the first-ever Nouvelle Horlogerie watch, but let’s not get distracted. The crown of a Freak X makes winding and setting a bit more straightforward, but the watch’s hallmark architecture remains unchanged. A Freak always had a rotating disc completing one revolution every 12 hours to display the hours. Also, “mandatory” is the flying carousel without an upper bridge, turning once per hour to indicate the minutes.
Upcycled carbon and colorful epoxy resin
The Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2, with its 43mm black DLC-treated titanium case, features a prominent Carbonium hour disc. Carbonium is an ultra-light carbon fiber upcycled from the aerospace industry and infused with vivid orange epoxy resin. The infusion results in a three-dimensional pattern reminiscent of Damascus steel. Each disc is unique, enhancing the watch’s bold aesthetic and technical character.
For the first time, the balance wheel is framed by an orange Super-LumiNova ring. And if this weren’t enough, it’s complemented by white Super-LumiNova accents on the indexes and bridges. Ulysse Nardin says it’s to improve legibility, but it mainly intensifies the Freak’s graphic appeal. The Freak X Gumball 3000 – Edition 2 comes equipped with an open-worked black rubber strap featuring orange inserts and stitching. This watch is a limited edition of 150 pieces, and it costs CHF 37,700 / €41,000 / US$46,400 / £35,000.
Now tell me, do you like the idea of the Gumball 3000? Would you like to participate, and if so, would you wear the matching watch? Let me know in the comments section.
