Race Across the World series 2

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Race Across the World: Series 2 - a shorter, easy-to-understand version

What it is
Race Across the World returned for its second series in 2020. Five teams raced from Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City to Ushuaia, Argentina, roughly 25,000 km away, over about two months. Each team started with £1,453 to cover all costs. The series had nine episodes in total, including a reunion special.

Contestants
- Dom Slater and Lizzie Slater (siblings)
- Emon Choudhury and Jamiul Choudhury (uncle and nephew)
- Jo Gardiner and Sam Gardiner (mother and son)
- Jen Lambra-Stokes and Rob Lambra-Stokes (married couple)
- Shuntelle Greenidge and Michael Greenway (couple)

Format and notable changes
- The no-fly rule was dropped for this series due to civil unrest in Ecuador, so teams were flown when needed to continue the race.
- Two teams quit the race: Shuntelle and Michael (Leg 2) after losing a large amount of money, and Jo and Sam (Leg 7) after running out of money.
- The winners were Emon and Jamiul, who finished the race just 20 seconds ahead of the runners-up.

The race (legs and routes)
Leg 1: From Mexico City, Mexico to Copán Ruinas, Honduras
Leg 2: Copán Ruinas, Honduras to Panama City, Panama
Leg 3: Panama City, Panama to Tatacoa Desert, Colombia
Leg 4: Jaén, Peru to Puno, Peru
Leg 5: Puno, Peru to Cafayate, Argentina
Leg 6: Cafayate, Argentina to Ilha Grande, Brazil
Leg 7: Ilha Grande, Brazil to Mendoza, Argentina
Leg 8: Mendoza, Argentina to Ushuaia, Argentina

What happened along the way (highlights)
- The teams often worked for bed and board to fund their journey, taking on jobs in hostels, farms, retirement homes, and boats.
- Several notable moments included Dom and Lizzie dealing with a health scare and delays, and Emon and Jamiul choosing routes that let them see famous sights like Rainbow Mountain.
- Jo and Sam were the first to drop out because they ran out of money; Shuntelle and Michael quit after losing most of their funds.
- The final leg saw a tense finish, with Emon and Jamiul narrowly beating Jen and Rob to win the series.

Reception and impact
- The show drew mixed critical reactions but was praised by some for its “heartfelt” and entertaining travel energy, while others felt some challenges were exaggerated.
- The Guardian praised the series for its emotional moments; The Telegraph had mixed views about the premise and tension.
- Many viewers found the journey engaging and uplifting, especially during the early stages of the COVID-19 era.

Ratings
- The first episode attracted about 1.9 million overnight viewers.
- The penultimate episode (final leg) drew around 3.3 million viewers overnight, indicating strong audience engagement.

Winner and aftermath
- Winners: Emon and Jamiul Choudhury.
- They pledged their prize winnings to help street children, as reported by BBC News.

This shorter version captures the key points: the journey, the contestants, the major twists (no-fly rule change and withdrawals), the leg-by-leg route, and how the series was received and watched.