Race Across the World fans furious as Eugenie and Isabel steal taxi

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Race Across the World's Eugenie and Isabel stole a taxi from Stephen and Viv in the penultimate episode – shocking fans watching at home.

The stakes were higher than ever as the four teams near the final checkpoint but first they had to travel through the rarely-visited Indonesian island of Sumatra which is one of the wildest and most unexplored places on earth which came with its on set of challenges for the race.

Keen to get ahead, the mother and daughter sneakily jumped into the retired married couple's taxi instead of getting their own. It had been made even more shocking as viewers had watched moments before how Stephen had inquired to make sure it was his taxi before going to get Viv. He concluded after speaking to the taxi driver: "Stephen, this is our taxi."

What, how and why?

While Stephen was away from the taxi, Eugenie made the snap decision to get in. "I'll get in!" She shouted to her daughter. "Come on Isabel, it's a race, let's get on." She hurried her daughter along as they both made a quick getaway from the checkpoint hotel.

Stephen and Viv watched on in shock as their competitors stole their ride in front of them. "Oh great, now they're nicking our taxi," he told his wife. "Jeez, it's ridiculous isn't it?" Viv appeared to be speechless as they fell behind in the race.

Eugenie asked for the stolen taxi to take them to the bus station and terminal. Smiling Isabel admitted she was feeling a bit bad about what they did. "Mum, I feel guilty," she said. Hilariously, the caption "stolen taxi" flashed up on screen to show it had cost Eugenie and Isabel just £3.70.

The mum shrugged off the drama and she tried to justify taking the taxi. She told her daughter: "It is what it is, we just need to get on, Isabel."

In a piece to camera, Eugenie admitted she was incredibly competitive and spurred on by the hopes of winning. She said: "I'm very competitive and i've taught my kids to be competitive too. Isabel and I are going to win."

Isabel was sure they needed to make up for what they had done along the way. Before getting the giggles, she said: "We need to do some charity work or something to get some good karma, at the moment it is not balanced."

Eugenie said: "It was either them or us. It's a competition!"

Race Across the World fans furious

Social media was awash with fans in uproar over Eugenie and Isabel's controversial move to steal the taxi in a bid to put themselves ahead in the competition. Among the comments, one person wrote: "Those two who have just stolen someone else’s taxi, they deserve every piece of bad luck that comes their way."

In agreement, another person wrote: "How dare they steal the taxi. I do not like them at all #RaceAcrossTheWorld."

Another wrote: "That’s a bit cutthroat !Stolen taxi! #RaceAcrossTheWorld."

Additionally a fan wrote: "Euginie and Isabel stealing other contestants' taxi = no longer want them to win. Cheats. #raceacrosstheworld."

Someone else wrote: "I really really hope that mother and daughter on #raceacrosstheworld don’t win. ‘Stealing’ the taxi was horrible!!"

Another fan added: "Still think it was a little low for Eugene and Isabel to steal a taxi from a couple of OAPs. #Raceacrosstheworld #playersgonnaplay."

However, not everyone thought it was "cut throat" because some fans were too busy laughing over the moment. Someone else wrote: "If the old man had stolen their taxi? Furious. Because they stole his taxi? Thrilled #raceacrosstheworld."

Another wrote: "‘stolen taxi’ the captions crack me up #RaceAcrossTheWorld."

Where are Eugenie and Isabel in the race?

Later, Eugenie and Isabel do face some "taxi karma" as they thought they were paying for a private taxi but end up in a shared cab which causes them some delays.

The mother and daughter have made bold moves all through this leg in a bid to get ahead in the competition and it paid off. Competitive Eugenie and Isabel manage to close the gap between them and leaders Alfie and Owen.

They reach the checkpoint hotel just 12 minutes behind the boys, meaning they are serious contenders in the race as the final looms.

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