The second episode of the sixteenth series of Top Gear aired on the 30th of January, 2011. It was presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, James May and The Stig, now in its third incarnation, alongside Top Gear Australia hosts Steve Pizzati, Ewen Page and Shane Jacobson, who presented the Australian version of this episode. German tennis legend Boris Becker was the guest star, with further cameo appearances made by Jodie Kidd and Darryn Lyons.
Synopsis[]
In a rare occasion, all three hosts stand at the centre of the studio, bathing in the audience's admiration. Brandishing an envelope, Jeremy Clarkson reminds the audience of a couple years prior, wherein they took on a German car show for the express purpose of boosting their ratings, which Hammond quickly corrects. Jeremy then states that they didn't just beat them (albeit with a "little bit" of cheating), they humiliated them.
James May continues, saying that they've had a letter from the producers of Top Gear Australia, described as the same program that they present, but with "silly accents". Jeremy then proceeds to read the letter, which states that their trio are coming to the UK soon and that they demand to take on their British contemporaries in a form of car-based Ashes, calling them "Pommie bas-" before the scene cuts to the start of the tournament.
Tonight...[]
- A sausage gets burnt...
- A sheep falls over...
- And our track is all wet.
Segments[]
Start of the Working Man's Drag Race
"The Working Man's Drag Race"[]
For the first event the presenters were told that they would compete in a drag race using only a working man's car. The Top Gear Australia team decides to use a HSV Maloo, whereas the Top Gear UK team decides to use a Ford Transit. The Transit wins however, as it was fitted with a twin-turbo Jaguar XJ220 engine. The Aussies were, obviously, not too happy about this, and neither was the driver of the van, Richard, who got the shock of his life when the Transit accelerated.
"The Double-Decker Car Race"[]
For the second event the presenters had a race in double-decker cars; the bottom car has no steering wheel and the top car has no brakes or throttle, similar to the challenge during "TopGear vs. The Germans". However, to compensate for coming from, in TopGear UK's view, an upside-down country, the top cars for the Aussies were placed upside down. The first team to complete a certain number of laps wins. The Top Gear UK team lost in the end because Hammond and May stopped for a full lap.
"Synchronised Drifting"[]
For the third event the presenters were instructed that they must perform in front of the other team a synchronized drifting show. Jeremy and the UK Stig used a Jaguar XK and an Aston Martin V12 Vantage respectively. The Australian team lost the challenge thanks to a lack of coordination and their inferior Vauxhall Omegas. When it comes to the scoring, Hammond accidentally gives them 11 instead of a planned 1.1 thus, giving the UK team a win by 20 - 11.
"Sheep Herding"[]
For the fourth event the presenters were told that they must herd sheep using motorbikes. The TopGear Australia team won the event thanks to the TopGear UK team losing the sheep and Clarkson failing to start his motorbike and ride it efficiently.
"The Race"[]
The cars used for the final Ashes challenge
The fifth and final event was a point-to-point rally race in Proton Super 2000 rally cars. The Australian team were given a 15.1 second head start (because they were 15.1 points up on the leaderboard). However, thanks to 'James' (really the Stig) taking a shortcut through a paddock the Top Gear UK team win.
Trivia[]
- Though the British version of the episode depicts the Australian trio arriving in prison vans, alluding to the criminal past of the first colonists, the Australian version shows them arriving in classic Australian muscle cars.
- Jeremy Clarkson and James May would later meet Steve Pizzati and Shane Jacobson for the Top Gear: Festival Sydney special in August 2013.
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