Chris Harris (journalist)

Chris Harris

Harris at the 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show
Born (1975-01-20) 20 January 1975
United Kingdom
Other names "Monkey"
Alma mater Clifton College
Occupation Journalist, racing driver, presenter
Years active 2002–present

Chris Harris (born 20 January 1975) is an English automotive journalist, racing driver and television presenter.[1] Harris has worked as a reviewer, writer, and editor for many automotive magazines, including Evo, Autocar, and Jalopnik.[2][3] He has presented numerous television and YouTube series through NBCSN and DRIVE.

From 2017, Harris is one of the three main presenters of Top Gear, after previously making regular appearances throughout the twenty-third series in 2016.[4] He has his own YouTube Channel, Chris Harris on Cars, where he and Neil Carey produce and film their own automotive reviews and content on an irregular basis. On 28 June 2016, the Chris Harris on Cars web series was moved from YouTube to the official Top Gear website and in July 2016, Chris Harris on Cars was launched on BBC America.[5]

Journalism

Harris began his career in the automotive industry by working for Autocar magazine,[2] performing various menial labour tasks, or, as he himself describes it, "cleaning ashtrays."[6] Eventually, he was promoted to an official road-test editor within Autocar magazine, and gained recognition and credibility as a journalist by writing many automotive reviews, as well as a regular opinion column.[2] At Autocar magazine, Harris earned the nickname of "Monkey."[7] In 2008, Harris left Autocar magazine to co-found a new web-based digital platform called Drivers Republic. A year later, the enterprise ceased operations. In a statement, Drivers Republic explained the abrupt termination was due to "differences in our vision about future priorities...." Immediately after the shutdown, Harris joined Evo magazine as a writer / reviewer, publishing his first article there on 12 October 2009.[8] He published for Evo magazine every few months until 21 December 2011,[8] but eventually resumed writing for Evo magazine on 10 April 2015.[8]

Subsequently, Chris Harris created an opinion and review YouTube series in partnership with /DRIVE. This new series aired weekly (starting in early 2012) on /DRIVE's YouTube channel, called /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS.[9] Each episode featured a different car, either owned by Harris, or given to /DRIVE temporarily from the manufacturer. The series greatly expanded /DRIVE's viewership, with 104 videos together amassing over 3,500,000 views in two years.[10] After two years of hosting automotive videos, Harris left the network in 2014 to create his own YouTube channel. He maintained a positive relationship with /DRIVE, remaining "a close friend of the /DRIVE brand...."[11][12][13]

On 27 October 2014,[14] Harris' YouTube channel, Chris Harris on Cars, was created. Harris partnered with longtime colleague and cameraman / editor Neil Carey and still shoots all Chris Harris on Cars (commonly abbreviated "CHOC") independently. Chris Harris on Cars has over 350,000 YouTube subscribers and nearly 30,000,000 views. In addition, on 6 November 2014, Harris began writing for Jalopnik,[12] an online automotive blog administrated by Kinja. Harris also has since partnered with /DRIVE through NBCSN, and now appears on American television channel NBCSN, reviewing cars and partaking in automotive related activities with other hosts, on a regular basis.

Television

In February 2016, Harris officially joined the new cast of Top Gear.[15] Harris served as a recurring presenter for the television show in 2016, but was promoted to a main presenter following the resignation of Chris Evans. From the twenty-fourth series, he presents the series alongside co-hosts Matt LeBlanc and Rory Reid.[16]

In 2016 Harris' web series, "Chris Harris On Cars", was absorbed by the BBC.

Automotive racing

A Porsche 911 Carrera Cup car, similar to the Porsche 911 Carrera Cup that Chris Harris drove.

Harris has an extensive racing career.[1] He won his first race in a Formula Palmer Audi in 2000.[17] Some of the race cars he has driven include a Cup, Renault Sport R.S. 01,[1] Aston Martin Vantage GT12,[1] and a Jaguar E-Type.[18] He has also raced in endurance races like the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 2010 and 2015.[1] He was on the Glickenhaus team for 2016, but their car was crashed during a practice session.[19] Harris often makes videos about the races he is attempting; sometimes teaching basic race techniques and other times simply sharing his experiences.[14]

24 Hours Nürburgring results

The Nürburgring race track
Year Final Position Car Races Team
2010 4th Porsche 911 GT3 RS 1 Porsche
2015 DNF Aston Martin Vantage GT12 1 Aston Martin
2016 DNF Glickenhaus P4/5 Competizione 1 Glickenhaus

Harris often discuss technical racing terms in his non-racing focused videos. Harris also emphasizes the importance of driving and racing safety in many of his videos, especially when teaching techniques like drifting.[20]

Blancpain GT Series Endurance Amateur Cup results

Year Team Car MNZ
Italy		 SIL
United Kingdom		 LEC
France		 SPA
Belgium		 NÜR
Germany		 Points Position
6hrs 12hrs 24hrs
2016 Team Parker Racing Bentley Continental GT3 Ret 40 32 61 53 54 34 48 6th
2017 Garage 59 McLaren 650S GT3 NC

Acquisitions and funding

Acquisitions

While Chris Harris has owned several exotic cars, like a Ferrari FF,[21] most of the cars Harris reviews are given to him by manufacturers. Manufacturers often give automotive journalists "press cars",[22] in hopes that a reviewer will give their [the manufacturer's] new car a positive review, and therefore boost the car's sales. Harris receives many press cars, sometimes for extended periods of time.[23] Harris has even received cars for up to six months, such as an Audi RS 6.[23] Harris is often characterised as passionate and comical in his reviews of press cars, saying once that his "life is incomplete without you [Referencing the Audi RS 6 press car]."[23]

Funding

In Harris' early career, magazines like Autocar and Evo paid him for his writing as a journalist. As his career progressed, Harris began to branch out on his own. Throughout the production of /CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS on the /DRIVE YouTube channel, he depended partially on sponsorships through various brands and through YouTube advertising revenue. Eventually, the /DRIVE channel switched partially to /DRIVE+, a paid subscription channel.[24] In his' current production series, Chris Harris on Cars, Harris supports both himself, and cameraman/editor Neil Carey.[25] Occasionally, Harris posts videos featuring sponsored content, from brands like Pirelli.[26] He also receives compensation from NBCSN for his regular television series, /DRIVE.

Controversies

Ferrari

Harris was banned from reviewing Ferrari cars on 2 February 2011,[27] after writing an article titled, "How Ferrari Spins." In his article, he criticized the firm for trying "to win every test [review] at any cost."[28] and called it a "profoundly irritating"[28] brand. He also gave his opinion that an automotive journalist is forced to please Ferrari with a positive review in order to maintain a relationship with the brand. Though he was technically banned from reviewing Ferrari cars, Harris was still able to unofficially review several Ferraris. In late 2013, Harris and Ferrari reconciled,[29] and he has since (officially) reviewed many Ferrari cars.

Lamborghini

In 2014, Harris was banned from reviewing Lamborghini cars, because of an article written by Harris, titled "Lamborghinis Are The Perfect Cars For People Who Can't Drive," in which he criticized many characteristics of the Lamborghini brand, saying their "future is bleak,"[30] Harris stated that the brand "can't support its looks with adequate [driving] dynamics."[30] He also notes several Lamborghini malfunctions; in one case, as he was driving, "the brakes [on the Lamborghini] caught fire."[30] Consequently, Lamborghini ended the relationship with Harris, and Harris has not officially reviewed a Lamborghini since.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Chris Harris - Racing career profile - Driver Database". www.driverdb.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 "Drifting, Racing & Reviewing. A Look At Chris Harris.". Gearheads. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  3. ↑ "Chris Harris". Kinja.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  4. ↑ Blumsom, Amy (4 July 2016). "Top Gear finale: Matt LeBlanc shone but where were the women?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "Top Gear Is Giving Chris Harris His Own Drifty, Tire-Smokey Online Series". 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  6. ↑ "Chris Harris – The man behind the wheel « CAR magazine Blog". www.carmagblog.co.za. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  7. ↑ "Why Chris Harris is a perfect fit for Top Gear | Autocar". www.autocar.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  8. 1 2 3 "Chris Harris". Evo. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "PHer presents YouTube channel | PistonHeads". www.pistonheads.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  10. ↑ "/CHRIS HARRIS ON CARS - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  11. ↑ "Chris Harris Steers Away from /Drive to Open His Own YouTube Channel". Carscoops. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Chris Harris's Jalopnik Column, On Jalopnik". Jalopnik. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  13. ↑ "Statement from Chris Harris". Chris Harris. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  14. 1 2 "Chris Harris on Cars". YouTube. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
  15. ↑ "Meet your new Top Gear presenters!". 2016-02-11. Retrieved 2016-07-17.
  16. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-39178038
  17. ↑ "Chris Harris at the Ring 24 hours". Evo. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  18. ↑ "Six Hours of Spa, 18 to 20 September 2015". www.ris-timing.be. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  19. ↑ "Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus prepares for the Nurburgring 24 Hours on three-car debut | Andreas Simonsen | A Swedish Race Driver". www.andreassimonsen.com. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  20. ↑ Harris, Chris. "How To Drift, BMW M235i". Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  21. ↑ Ramsey, Jonathon. "Chris Harris reviews his personal, two-year-old Ferrari FF [w/video]". Autoblog. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  22. ↑ "The Truth About Press Cars". Jalopnik. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 "174mph and room for the dog. RS6 is the ultimate all-rounder, says Chris Harris". Goodwood Road & Racing. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Ask /DRIVE Anything About Its New Subscription Channel On YouTube". /DRIVE. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  25. ↑ "Support Chris Harris creating Videos". Patreon. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  26. ↑ Harris, Chris. "Pirelli P-Zero Trofeo R tyre test.". Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  27. ↑ "This is the only way Chris Harris is allowed to test drive a Ferrari". Jalopnik. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  28. 1 2 "How Ferrari Spins". Jalopnik. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  29. ↑ Gooderham, Michael (26 October 2013). "Small Blog V8: Chris Harris Is Allowed To Drive Ferraris Again. This Is A Good Thing". Small Blog V8. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  30. 1 2 3 "Lamborghinis Are The Perfect Cars For People Who Can't Drive". Jalopnik. Retrieved 31 October 2015.
  31. ↑ "chris harris on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
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