TOP GEAR

“Its whacky presentation and daring escapades have made this compelling viewing for me, someone who normally would never watch a programme on cars out of choice!” says artSMart editor, Caroline Smart.

In the 14th series of the hugely popular motoring show Top Gear, the challenges get even more clever, the celebrities have even more fun, Jeremy, Richard and James become even more daring, and the Stig is just as mysterious.

The series kicks off with a driver’s idea of heaven when Richard and James take an Aston DBS Volante, a Ferrari California and a Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder to Romania in search of an obscure stretch of tarmac that some driving enthusiasts claim is nothing less than the greatest road in the world.

Meanwhile, James makes a rare appearance on the track as he compares two absurdly powerful limos, the BMW 760i and Mercedes S63 AMG, and gets into a strange card game with the Stig. Elsewhere, Jeremy and Richard settle the thorny issue of which company has made the greatest number of truly brilliant cars, James has a novel solution for getting caravans to campsites without clogging up the roads, Jeremy hits the track in a replica of a legendary rally car, and Richard invents the brand new sport of airport vehicle racing.

Celebrities taking a turn in the Star in the Reasonably Priced Car in this series include Troy and Hulk actor Eric Bana, Frost/Nixon and The Damned United star Michael Sheen, and film director Guy Ritchie, who seems to have a little trouble with the gearstick …!

The seven episodes of Series 14 of Top Gear can be seen from August 18 at 20h30 on BBC Entertainment (channel 120 on DStv) and continues every Wednesday at 20h30.