Top Gear Russia

Top Gear Russia

Top Gear Russia title card
Genre Motoring
Created by BBC Worldwide
Developed by REN-TV
Presented by Nikolai Fomenko
Mikhail Petrovsky
Oskar Kuchera
Theme music composer Dickey Betts
Opening theme "Jessica"
Country of origin UK (Top Gear)
Russia (adaptation)
Original language(s) Russian
No. of series 1
Production
Executive producer(s) Cameron Miller
Producer(s) BBC Worldwide
Ren-TV
Location(s) Moscow
Running time 60 minutes (w/ commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel Ren-TV
Original run 22 February – 25 October 2009
Chronology
Related shows Top Gear (current format)
Top Gear Australia
Top Gear (US)
Top Gear Korea

Top Gear Russia (Russian: Top Gear: Русская версия) was a Russian motoring television series on Ren-TV, based on the British program Top Gear produced by the BBC. It premiered on 22 February 2009.[1] The show was aired for the last time on 25 October 2009, due to low ratings.

Presenters

The hosts chosen for Top Gear Russia were:

Segments

Power Lap

Similar to both the original UK series and its Australian spin-off, Top Gear Russia features a Powerlap segment, in this case held in an abandoned airfield in Mnevniki. To inaugurate the track and populate the lap board in the first episode, the hosts invited numerous local celebrities to participate and treated them to a picnic with shashlyk and a smoking samovar.

Lap times

  1. Germany 1:12.00 - Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (damp)
  2. Japan 1:12.96 - Nissan GT-R (wet)
  3. Germany 1:13.16 - 1985 Porsche 911 (damp)
  4. United Kingdom 1:13.88 - Bentley Continental GT Speed (damp and icy)
  5. Germany 1:14.00 - Alpina B3 (moist)
  6. Italy 1:14.83 - Lamborghini Gallardo (some snow+summer tyres)
  7. United Kingdom 1:16.85 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster (damp)
  8. United Kingdom 1:17.85 - Aston Martin DB9 (wet)
  9. Italy 1:19.00 - Ferrari 550M
  10. United Kingdom 1:21.01 - Range Rover Sport (damp)
  11. Japan 1:22.12 - Mazda MX-5 (damp)
  12. Italy 1:22.27 - Fiat 500
  13. Sweden 1:49.17 - Volvo XC90 (snow)
  14. United Kingdom 2:08.71 - Land Rover Defender 90 SVX soft top (ice+snow)
  15. Russia 2:15.93 - UAZ 469 Off-Road modified (ice+snow)
  16. Germany 2:23.25 - Audi R8 (snow)
  17. Italy DNF - Ferrari F430 (snow)

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

The Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment and the Australian "Star in a Bog Standard Car" are mirrored with Russia's own version. The car used is a race-prepped Lada Kalina. Unlike in the UK version of Top Gear, a different lap format is used for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment to that of the Stig's power laps.

Cool Wall

Introduced in episode 2 of season 1, the cool wall mirrors the popular segment from the UK original.

References

External links