Top Gear Australia (series 1)

The first series of the television series Top Gear Australia aired in Australia from 29 September 2008. The series included presenters Warren Brown, Charlie Cox and Steve Pizzati.

Episodes

# Production code Title Director Airdate
1 Series 1 Episode 1 Gary Deans 29 September 2008
Guest: Vince Colosimo
Review: The Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 is shown in the studio. It is claimed to be the world first studio appearance.

Cox reviews the Porsche 911 Carrera S with PDK gearbox. The Stig does the power lap in the Carrera S, and also does power laps in several "really fast, really interesting cars" (Lotus Elise, Nissan GT-R, BMW M3, Mercedes Benz CLS 63 AMG) and one "really stupid car" (Hummer Stretch) to get some comparable times on the Power Lap board.

Challenge: Soft roaders: The presenters test crossover vehicles on sand and snow. Brown tested the Subaru Forester, Cox the Toyota RAV4 and Pizzati the Nissan X-Trail. The first timed test was a circuit on sand dunes. Cox achieved the shortest lap time but Pizzati kept timing when Cox failed to stop at the finish line and became airborne off the top of the dune. The vehicles were driven to Perisher Valley and tested on a circuit of soft snow with all three presenters in each vehicle. Again Cox achieved the shortest lap time.

Shark cage: Brown takes a Mini Moke to Port Lincoln, South Australia and fits a shark cage to the chassis. Brown gets into the cage in scuba gear, and the car is lowered into the water from a fishing boat. A Great White Shark appears but is not interested in the car. To attract the shark, Brown wraps himself in sausages and chum is poured into the water.

News: Increase in the luxury car tax, Victoria Police driving Hummers, Citroën C5
What were they thinking?: Maybach 57S, Mitsubishi Legnum, Lightburn Zeta
Bog Standard Car: Vince Colosimo sets a time of 1:34.19.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
2 Series 1 Episode 2 Gary Deans 6 October 2008
Guest: Steve Bisley
Review: Cox tests the new build Ford GT using unit RHD001, the first right hand drive GT ever built.

Cox and Pizzati test Ford vs Holden at Wakefield Park. Pizzati tests a Ford FPV F6 and Cox a Holden HSV E series with LS3 engine. The tests were a 400m standing start and a braking test. Before each test, Cox suggested they "warm up the tyres a bit".

Challenge: The presenters go to the Super Pit gold mine to see if utes can move ore more efficiently than a mining truck. Cox chose a Nissan Navara, Pizzati chose a Ford Falcon XR6 Turbo ute and Brown chose a Proton Jumbuck. They raced against The Stig driving a 225t Caterpillar 793S.

Brown and Pizzati convert a Mercedes-Benz Smart into a hearse.

News: Brown suggests some Indian variations for Land Rover and Jaguar following Tata Motors' purchase of the British car manufacturers, Ford Australia considering converting the Falcon into a front wheel drive, Camille driving a Ford Ka in Quantum of Solace, Mini proposing to build an SUV, British drivers crashing two Bugatti Veyrons.
What were they thinking?: Leyland Force 7, Rinspeed sQuba, Valiant Charger E38
Bog Standard Car: Steve Bisley sets a time of 1:26.75.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
3 Series 1 Episode 3 Gary Deans 13 October 2008
Guest: Julia Zemiro
Review: Pizatti compares the Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Black Series with the regular Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class.

Brown tests the BMW X6 diesel.

Challenge: Each presenter is given $500 to buy a wrecked car and make it operable for driving tests. Cox buys a Holden Kingswood HT, Pizzati buys a Ford Falcon EA taxi and Brown buys a 1989 Toyota Camry station wagon.
News: The presenters discussed the controversy surrounding Cox's use of the word "poofteenth" in his review of the Porsche 911 PDK from the first episode; Pizzati talks about the Nissan GT-R and the manufacturer's claim that it went faster round the Nürburgring than a Porsche 911; Brown mentions the battle for sales between the Toyota Corolla and the Holden Sportwagon; Cox discusses the road rules for multi-lane roundabouts.
What were they thinking?: Volvo 262 Coupé, Holden VC Commodore Starfire, Brown and Pizzati's Smart hearse conversion.
Bog Standard Car: Julia Zemiro sets a time of 1:37.41.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
4 Series 1 Episode 4 Gary Deans 20 October 2008
Guest: Jack Thompson
Review: Pizzati tests the HSV W427 at the Lang Lang Vehicle Proving Ground.
Challenge: Global Positioning System is tested in the Kimberley. Cox and Pizzati find three waypoints in a TRD Toyota Hilux with GPS against Brown on a horse with an Australian Aboriginal guide finding the same locations by name.

The presenters play lawn bowls using Holden Astras rolled off a ramp towards a giant inflatable jack.

News: Lightning Car Company, environmental impact of Ferrari vs Toyota, Volvo using locust navigation to avoid collisions, road rage.
What were they thinking?: Armstrong Siddeley ute, Ferrari 456 GT Venice
Bog Standard Car: Jack Thompson sets a time of 1:31.10.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
5 Series 1 Episode 5 Gary Deans 27 October 2008
Guest: Shannon Noll
Review: Cox tests the Audi R8 on the runway at Hamilton Island Airport.

Pizzati tests the BMW 135, comparing it with the BMW M3 and BMW 335.

Challenge: The presenters convert an Audi 80 2.0E into a yacht and enter it in the Hamilton Island Race Week regatta. It failed to get to the start line before the race started so the crew returned to shore, surprised that the engine started and it drove itself back up the boat ramp.

Brown and Pizzati test the practicality of a "Toorak Tractor", a pejorative label in Australia for luxury SUVs, by driving a Massey Ferguson tractor through Toorak, Victoria. They also run over a Saab.

News: Major manufacturers not attending Australian motor shows, second generation Honda Insight, second generation Cadillac CTS.
What were they thinking?: Renault Vel Satis, SsangYong Stavic, Ford Festiva
Bog Standard Car: Shannon Noll sets a time of 1:27.44 on a wet track.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
6 Series 1 Episode 6 Gary Deans 3 November 2008
Guest: James Morrison
Review: Cox tests the Mercedes Benz SL63 AMG.
Challenge: Trip from Alice Springs to Daintree in luxury 4 wheel drives. Pizzati chooses an Audi Q7, Brown a Range Rover TDV8 Vogue & Cox a Lexus LX 570.
News: New Holden Barina, revival of the Volkswagen Kombi, Mazda Kiyora.
What were they thinking?: Parking police, Lotus Elan Mk. II
Bog Standard Car: Future host James Morrison sets a time of 1:26.46.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
7 Series 1 Episode 7 Gary Deans 10 November 2008
Guest: James Courtney & Greg Murphy
Review: Pizzati tests the Nissan GTR.
Challenge: Pizzati and Brown race a Subaru Impreza WRX STI from the Oakey Army Aviation Centre to a nearby high hill while being chased by a Tiger helicopter.

Cox and Brown test petrol and diesel versions of the Volkswagen Golf to find which is better. Cox uses a Golf FSI Pacific and Brown chooses a Golf TDI Pacific.

News: Statue of Peter Brock at the National Motor Racing Museum in Bathurst, Citroën Picasso, Intelligent speed adaptation being tested in Australia.
What were they thinking?: Wheels magazine's Car of the Year, in particular the Renault 12, Mitsubishi Nimbus, withholding the award on 3 occasions, Holden Camira & split decision between the Honda NSX and the Nissan Pulsar.
Bog Standard Car: James Courtney sets a time of 1:23.53 and Greg Murphy sets a time of 1:23.60.
# Production Code Title Director Airdate
8 Series 1 Episode 8 Gary Deans 17 November 2008
Guest: Claudia Karvan
Review: The Jaguar XF gets its turn on the test track.
Challenge: The trio goes to Tasmania in an Aston Martin DB9, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera and Porsche 911 Turbo to find out "the best driving road in Australia". The second part of the show takes place on closed roads as used in the Targa Tasmania.

The Holden and Ford Australia takes on each other the second time.

News: The BMW claim that their new car was able to read road signs, the New South Wales Government "promise" that they would confiscate cars that their drivers kept using their horns; the dwindle of V8 sales and the adaption of "stripes" on those cars by Holden and Ford.
What were they thinking?: The people of Babylon and their invention of toll roads, and the three hosts of the British version of Top Gear.
Bog Standard Car: Claudia Karvan sets a time of 1:31.22.

Weekly ratings

Episode Original Airdate Timeslot Viewers1 Nightly Rank (#) Weekly Rank (#)
#1 29 September 2008 Monday
7:30 P.M.		 940,000 [1] 13 [1] 53 [1]
#2 6 October 2008 669,000 [2] 26 [3] 95 [2]
#3 13 October 2008 668,000 [4] 26 [5] 99 [4]
#4 20 October 2008 598,000 [6] 29 [7] ---2
#5 27 October 2008 435,000 [8] 32 [9] ---2
#6 3 November 2008 647,000 [10] 24 [11] 94 [10]
#7 10 November 2008 609,000 [12] 27 [13] 93 [12]
#8 17 November 2008 662,000 [14] 25 [15] 92 [14]
Series Average --- --- 654,000 25 ---
1 Viewer numbers are based on OzTAM data for Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth combined.
2 Did not make top 100

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 TV Ratings: Week 40
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 TV Ratings: Week 41
  3. ↑ Aussie Top Gear ratings slump
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 TV Ratings: Week 42
  5. ↑ The Who We Are update: Week 42
  6. ↑ TV Ratings: Week 43
  7. ↑ The Who We Are update: Week 43
  8. ↑ TV Ratings: Week 44
  9. ↑ The Who We Are update: Week 44
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 TV Ratings: Week 45
  11. ↑ The Who We Are update: Week 45
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 TV Ratings: Week 46
  13. ↑ The Who We Are update: Week 46
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 TV Ratings: Week 47
  15. ↑ The Who We Are update: Week 47