Before the main event kicks off, five wildcard candidates will compete for a spot in the main race – one of the new features in season 3. To participate, they must first prove themselves in a separate challenge – a kind of mini-version of "The Race." The goal is to reach five landmarks across Germany as quickly as possible. Not just one person qualifies – the two best participants will jointly secure a ticket for "The Race" season 3 and compete as a wildcard team.

The challenge gets personal: Jerry gets a sofa offer with shortcut options, but rules are rules. Kodiak collects stamps and continues his journey to Berlin. Taube meets a real lucky charm on the train, Käthe lands warm and safe with Grandma's connection, and Marc relentlessly carries out his plan: fare evasion, onward travel, stamps!

A day like a plot twist: Jerry finally gets his momentum and gets double the stamp. Kodiak gets the ticket money at the last second – straight out of a movie! Taube, as always, spreads good vibes, gives things away, and sleeps in the woods like a true adventurer. Käthe is completely offline. Marc, on the other hand: party spawn, then a Flixbus sneak peek and more stamps.

Now only one thing matters: Finish mode. Jerry keeps collecting money and stamping his ticket in Cologne. Kodiak takes the risky route, rides the train without a ticket, and completes the speedrun perfectly. Taube chases after him, Käthe struggles with her overactive imagination and a comeback, Marc wants to go to Munich and starts an extra challenge. Final energy: Who will break first, who will stamp their ticket last?

Final leg: no more excuses. Jerry is giving it his all to get to Munich on time. Taube miscalculates the coordinates, goes the wrong way, but still makes it to the finish. Käthe gets her card stamped, is running late, but keeps going anyway. Marc persevered and stamps his card for good. Who will win second place?

Hanoi, starting signal: Dave hands each team two scrolls, but no destination, only Vietnamese. Coordinates or a complete bluff? Without money, without cell phones, with only the bare necessities, teamwork now counts in the urban chaos. JP and Essow puzzle over it, the others push forward – who will crack the code first and set the tone for Vietnam?

The chaos of Hanoi puts the teams to the test. They first have to earn their budget for the next leg of their journey. Amidst sputtering mopeds and street food stalls, they collect donations. But the clock is ticking: Who will be the fastest to escape the city's labyrinth and find their way towards the Laotian border? The race against time – and the competition – begins.

A sense of anticipation fills the air as all the teams embark on the long journey to Laos. While their competitors try to recharge in sleeper buses, Essow and JP prefer to use their last night in Hanoi for one last big celebration. But unexpected problems await them at the border crossing into Laos, threatening to derail their onward journey.