Scrapheap Challenge is an engineering game show produced by RDF Media and broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK. In the show, teams of contestants have 10 hours, in which to build a working machine that can do a specific task, using materials available in a scrapheap. The format has been exported to the United States, where it is known as Junkyard Wars. (The US show is also produced by RDF Media, and is shown on The Learning Channel.)

A typical episode features a competition between two 4-person teams, each consisting of three regular members, plus an expert in that field. The judge for each episode will typically be a specialist in (non-scrap) versions of the machine being constructed.

The challenges are many and varied, usually involving teams constructing a machine to achieve a particular objective. The final showdown usually consists of either head to head races or individually run timed events.

Examples of challenges include making a jet car, a bridging machine, a car-crusher, or a machine to fling a Mini as far as possible.

The idea for the show came from a scene in the movie Apollo 13, where NASA engineers had only a short period of time to construct an air filter out of parts available on the space capsule. The show also draws its inspiration on the 1980s TV series 'The Great Egg Race'.

Details of individual series
Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Scrapheap Challenge (UK)
The UK show is presented by Robert Llewellyn, joined in series 2-5 by Cathy Rogers, and in series 6 onwards by Lisa Rogers (no relation). Series 1 was titled Scrapheap, and pitted the same two teams against each other each week. From series 2, the show was renamed Scrapheap Challenge - a knockout championship between teams drawn from the general public. From series 3, a champion of champions was initiated.

Series 1 (1998) - The series was tied 3-3 
Series 2 (1999) - Winners: Megalomaniacs 
Series 3 (2000) - Winners: Brothers in Arms; Champion of Champions: Megalomaniacs 
Series 4 (2001) - Winners: Cat-alysts; Champion of Champions: Cat-alysts 
Series 5 (2002) - Winners: Barley Pickers; Champion of Champions: Cat-alysts 
Series 6 (2003) - Winners: The Destroyers; Champion of Champions: Cat-alysts 
Series 7 (2004) - Winners: Anoraks; Champion of Champions: Anoraks 
Series 8 (2005) - Winners: Powerlifters; Champion of Champions: Powerlifters 

Scrappy Races (UK)
A spin-off series, Scrapheap Challenge: The Scrappy Races was instituted in 2003 and has been broadcast following the main series each year since, with a new series due to follow Series 8 of the main series. It is also presented by Robert Llewellyn and Lisa Rogers.

It involves several teams being allocated a budget and several weeks to construct a road-legal vehicle which - if classified as a car - must pass the Single Vehicle Approval [1] test. They then drive to various tests in-convoy across the UK where they are given eight hours at a local scrapheap to modify their vehicles for the test - although, in all but the final test, they must be capable of being returned to road-legal status.

Series 1 (2003-04) - Winners: Chaos Crew 
Series 2 (2004-05) - Winners: Chaos Crew 

Scrapheap Mega Challenge (UK)
Another Spin off, the contestants have more time and a harder project to build.

This article related to broadcasting in the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 


Junkyard Wars (USA)
The US show is presented by George Gray and Tyler Harcott (series 2-5), joined by Cathy Rogers (series 1-3) and Karyn Bryant (series 4-5)

Series 1 (2001) - Winners: Long Brothers 
Series 2 (2001) - Winners: Miami Gearheads 
Series 3 (2002) - Winners: The Pit Crew 
Series 4 (2002) - Winners: Kentucky Fried Family 
Series 5 (2003) - Winners: Jet Doctors 
Note: Former North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer was one of many notable people appearing on the show. Schafer was on during the fifth season as a member of the High Flyers which lost to the Jet Doctors in the Fifth Series finale.


Junkyard Mega-Wars (USA)
The show was reformatted, to consist of two regular captains, who each select 3 people to help in the challenge. The show is presented by Rossi Morreale and Bobbi Sue Luther.

Series 1 (2002) - Captains: Bowser, and Crash 
Series 2 (2004) - Captains: Hacket and (retired) Lieutenant-Colonel Dick Strawbridge 

Broadcasting Notes
The UK show is broadcast on US television under the then-current US title (ie Junkyard Wars for series 1-3; Junkyard Mega-Wars for series 4 onwards).
The US show is broadcast in the UK as Scrapheap Challenge USA on Channel 4, and as Junkyard Wars on the Discovery Channel UK.