Just in case you had forgotten, the latest series of the original Top Gear—Series 11—airs in the UK this Sunday 22 June. Stay tuned for highlights and more updates. In the meantime, enjoy this teaser.
Tag: Top Gear
Top Gear Australia’s new presenters—Charlie Cox, Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati—will be breaking the ice on set this July when filming of their debut eight-part series kicks off. In a recent interview with UK staple The Times, Matt Campbell, SBS head of content, claims the Aussies won’t be outdone when it comes to the type of stunts and races we’ve come to expect from the Top Gear UK crew.
“I think some of the sequences that we have in mind will make Clarkson, Hammond and May quite jealous,” he says. “They haven’t got the diverse range of terrain that we have in Australia to muck around in.”
Jeremy Clarkson has got himself into more hot water for admitting to driving 186mph (300km/h) on a public road in Britain. In news sure to attract unwanted attention for Australian producers of the impending Top Gear spin off, the revelation has come to light in a recent article in the Daily Mail. This has obviously created outrage from a variety of groups:
Mary Williams, chief executive of Brake, said: ‘Jeremy Clarkson is extremely offensive and irresponsible. His comments are very upsetting to loved ones who have suffered a bereavement through a road crash because of a speeding driver. He is the most appalling role model for our next generation of drivers. The BBC should sack him – he is totally out of control.’
UPDATE: Meet the Top Gear Australia cast (watch video)
Charlie Cox, Warren Brown and Steve Pizzati will form the Australian cast of Top Gear to air on SBS. The trio were selected after the show’s producers—including Andy Wilman, executive producer of Top Gear UK—went through an exhaustive 4000 applications. It is said the show will have an Australian flavour, although the stereotypical Australian ‘ocker’ won’t be featured. The Australian producers will model their version heavily on the extraordinarily successful UK version which stars Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
Charlie Cox, 47, is an ex-Briton with a background in motoring journalism. Forty-something Warren Brown is best known for his role as a cartoonist with The Daily Telegraph—expect him to have a sharp wit. While thirty-ish Steve Pizzati brings some genuine driving credentials to the set thanks to his experience as an advanced driving instructor and racer with Porsche Australia.
Categories
Top Gear – Series 11 teasers
Recent reports about the new episodes of Top Gear have fans even more excited about the series return on 22 June. From the Top Gear blog, Andy Wilman, the show’s Executive Producer, says “most exciting for me is that we’ve finally come up with another big race – you know, car versus something or other … this one is back to basics, more hardcore, mega car, mega opponent, with a solid premise. And a clue for the geeks: we did it in Japan.” My tip is it will feature the Mazda Furai, or a Nissan GT-R. Or both, perhaps!
Giving further clues as to what we can expect Wilman states, “we go to war, literally, with a German version of Top Gear (which incidentally means Sabine is back) and there’s a very exciting shootout with the RS6 against the most suicidal of skiers”
One thing that Wilman doesn’t state, however, is the Veyron feature filmed in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. This has been revealed on the Releaselog website, which has a few spy shots of the the Stig captured during the shoot.
All in all, it is shaping up to be a great series, or at least, the fans hope it will be. So far there has been nothing to indicate anyone will be disappointed. Keep reading AUSmotive for more updates, or check in to the FinalGear forums for more leads.
Internet speculation suggests that Series 11 of Top Gear will go to air on UK televisions on 22 June. Keep an eye out for more updates as they come to hand. In the meantime, to help you get by during the TG off-season see below for one of my favourite Top Gear challenges. The £1500 Porsche Challenge from Series 5.
Categories
TopGear t-shirts
If you’re not a fan of the BBC’s TopGear, then you should be. To show that you are, get yourself one of the great official t-shirts available from Amber Promotions. I have three t-shirts from their range and they are well made and of a very high quality. Delivery to Australia is no problem and if you can get a group of mates together bulk ordering and discounts may be available as well. I dealt with Doug at Amber Promotions when coordinating the purchase of around 25 shirts in 2006 and he was excellent to deal with. If you’re keen on some of these shirts, shoot Doug an email and tell him Liam from Australia sent you.