Overview

• The June 4 episode closed with a memorial card showing Sam Gardiner’s photo and the message “In loving memory of Sam Gardiner 2000–2025.”
• Gardiner, who raced from Mexico to Argentina with his mother Jo in the show’s second series, suffered fatal injuries after his car left the A34 near Cheadle and rolled on May 26.
• His parents, Jo and Andrew, described him as “loyal, funny and fiercely protective” in a statement expressing their devastation at losing their 24-year-old son.
• The show’s official Instagram account lauded Sam’s energy and the transformative impact of the journey on both him and his mother while extending deepest condolences.
• Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to express sorrow at the on-screen tribute, and the Gardiner family has announced plans for a private funeral.