The Global Run

The Global Run is a annual 3,000-mile (4,800 km) international celebrity motor rally, which takes place on public roads every April, May or June. It was established in 2001 by Matt Damon & Paul Walker, with their vision to combine cars, music, fashion and entertainment.

Rally format
The The Global Run takes on average 120 drivers, each year across countries and continents on a 3000-mile journey. Travelling on public roads in exotic cars and attending parties each night, for 7 days per year the entrants of the rally receive an exclusive rally experience. The rally was founded in 2001 by Paul Walker & Matt Damon, initially as a road trip with his friends. Organizers strongly emphasize that the 3000 is a road trip and in no way a race.

Foundation (2001 - 2006)
The first event took place in 2001, with the 3,000 mile journey starting in Paris, to Vladimirskaya Oblast, Russia and then back. Damon & Walker planned different events on each night of the rally, ranging from parties to dinner events. The rally received coverage in the American, French & Russian media at the time as the rally and events surrounding 2001 Global Run were attended by high-profile figures, such as Brad Pitt and Alec Baldwin. The event commenced with a prayer at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris in Paris. Cars that took place in this first rally included a NYPD Ford Crown Victoria driven by Vin Diesel, a 1977 Aston Martin V8 Vantage driven by Alec Baldwin and a 2000 Ferrari 360 Modena driven by Brad Pitt. Cooper made the decision not to use any form of timing or prizes for placed finishes in order to avoid criticism and promote safety.

Following the success of the first Global Run, the second event in 2002 began at the The Mercury Lounge in New York City, before heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport to fly over to Milan, Italy. The rally then continued through Vaduz, Würzburg, Göttingen, Lübeck, Stockholm and Arjeplog Municipality, before heading back to the starting city, New York City.

The 2002 event again attracted celebrities and high-profile names. They included Anthony Hopkins & Richard Hammond in an Toyota Supra, Matt Damon and Eminem in an Hummer H1 Alpha and DMX in an Ducati. It began in May 2002 began at the The Mercury Lounge in New York City, before heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport to fly over to Milan, Italy. The rally then continued through Vaduz, Würzburg, Göttingen, Lübeck, Stockholm and Arjeplog Municipality, before heading back to the starting city, New York City.

The 2003 Global Run started on June 2003, and saw the convoy travel from Berlin through Leipzeig, Prauge, Brno, Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade, Sofia, Ankara, and Burhaniye before returning to Berlin for the finale. Entrants who featured in the 2003 Global Run included Kimi Räikkönen in a Mercedes and Will Smith who drove a McLaren F1. The event was notorious for the Budapest crash between Will Smith's McLaren F1 and a BMW 3 Series. The BMW 3 Series driver was killed, but Will Smith survived, albeit paralyzed from the waist down.

The 2004 Global Run rally began in Seattle on the west coast of America and finished Sterling. The rally passed through Billings, Fargo, Tucson, Duluth, Gaylord, Flint, Hamilton, Syracuse, Albany & Worcester, before arriving Sterling and returning to Seattle. Featured participants included Xzibit in an Dodge Ram, Colin McRae and Chester Bennington, who drove in a Ferrari Daytona. Oscar-winning actor Tom Cruise drove a Nissan 350Z in the rally alongside Michael Bay, who directed Run 2004, documenting the adventures of the 2004 rally.

TBD