For the second year running, a male performance team from Sydney has been left stranded in the desert due to car troubles en route to the Top End.

The van belonging to the Sydney Hotshots had completed 10,000 kilometres of the group's tour around Australia, however the engine overheated on the long journey from Perth to Katherine.

Tour manager Dave Hughes said the team were stranded in a barren landscape.

"We were stuck for a little bit out there; we had to get towed all the way back to Perth," he told ABC Radio Darwin's Liz Trevaskis.

"What's most ironic is that a van filled with five muscly men, not one of us knew how to fix a car."

Unfortunately, this means the group's tour across regional Northern Territory towns, including Katherine, Humpty Doo and Jabiru, has been cancelled.

Van not cut out for NT roads

Mr Hughes said the Hotshots were disappointed to yet again let down Territorians.

"Last year we were making our way across from Kununurra to Katherine and a kangaroo jumped out on the road unexpectedly," he said.

The team's van overturned when they swerved around a kangaroo en route to Katherine last year. ( Supplied: Dave Hughes )

"The driver at the time was an Argentinian stripper; he thought it was cute so he swerved and rolled the car three times.

"The cops were astounded when they found us."

Mr Hughes said the Hotshots had hoped that experience was a one-off and had changed their driving schedule in order to avoid unexpected roadblocks.

"We don't drive at night anymore; this year we wanted to avoid wildlife," he said.

"We have now fitted the van with a bull bar ... turns out even that couldn't help us finally get up to the Top End."

Third time's the charm

The team believes they'll finally make it to the Top End next year.

"We will just have to make the show bigger and better when we finally get up to the ladies," Mr Hughes said.

The Sydney Hotshots promise to return to the Top End with a bigger and better show. ( Supplied: Dave Hughes )

Hoping the mechanics will finish the repairs today, the Hotshots will start the 30-hour drive for their Tennant Creek and Alice Springs performances over the weekend.

"I have googled the roads between Perth and Tennant Creek and I know plenty of them are unsealed ... I am a little worried and don't want to take too many chances after these recent experiences," Mr Hughes said.

"I have driven all over the country — the back of the van will be heavy, so here's hoping we get to make an appearance in central Australia."