''Top Gear'' test track

Top Gear Test Track

Test track plan
Location Dunsfold Aerodrome, Dunsfold, Surrey, England
Time zone GMT
Coordinates 51°06′59″N 0°32′29″W / 51.116428°N 0.541463°W / 51.116428; -0.541463Coordinates: 51°06′59″N 0°32′29″W / 51.116428°N 0.541463°W / 51.116428; -0.541463
Road circuit
Length 2.82 km (1.75 mi)
Turns 12
Lap record 0:59 (The Stig, Renault R25, 2004, Formula One (F1))
Drag strip
Length 2.83 km (1.76 mi)
Turns 1
Short circuit
Turns 4
Rally circuit
Length ? km (? mi)

The Top Gear test track is used by the BBC automotive television programme Top Gear. It is located at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, United Kingdom. The track was designed by Lotus Cars as a testing facility for the Colin Chapman-run company, with many of its Formula One cars tested there. It is used to test both cars and drivers seen on the programme, mainly in Power Laps and Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

For the 23rd series of Top Gear the track was expanded with a rallycross section for the new "Star in a Rallycross Car" segment, but it was abandoned at the end of that series.

In December 2016 planning permission was granted for 1800 homes to be built on the current site of the aerodrome.[1] As part of the redevelopment, it is proposed that the track (and associated aerodrome infrastructure such as the runway drag strip) be demolished.[2]

Layout

The track is on a former Royal Canadian Air Force airbase constructed during the Second World War and later used by British Aerospace as a manufacturing and test facility. The track's main route, marked by painted lines and simple structures such as stacks of tyres, was designed by test drivers from Lotus.[3][4] The layout of the track is designed to put the car through various conditions, ranging from provoking understeer to testing brake balance and tyres. The track is approximately 1.75 miles (2.82 km) long. It is considered to be an equaliser for cars since, according to Richard Hammond, both 0–60 miles per hour (0–96.6 km/h) times and top speed are totally meaningless.[3] The track also incorporates a drag strip; although this is not used for timed segments, it does feature in some challenges and other features on the show.

The course starts on the perimeter road outside the Top Gear studio. The first bend is a fast right-left kink named "Crooner Curves." "Willson Bend" is the first proper turn on the track and the first corner usually seen when The Stig is lapping a car.[5] "Chicago", a long right-hand around a tyre wall onto the main runway, was designed by Lotus as a steady state corner, designed to highlight understeer or oversteer of the chassis. Next is "Hammerhead", a left-then-right corner, which again highlights understeer and oversteer. The track comes to a right-hand curve, then the course turns right through the flat-out section called the "Follow Through". After the left hand "Bentley Bend" named after the person who first "discovered" Jeremy Clarkson and former Top Gear presenter, Jon Bentley, but commonly referred to simply as "the tyres", the course comes to "Bacharach Bend", which, after the first series, has been referred to as the "Penultimate Corner" or the "Second-to-last Corner" and is often regarded as one of the most challenging on the course. The final turn before the finish line is "Gambon" in honour of Sir Michael Gambon, who completed the turn on two wheels in episode 8 of Series 1. Prior to this, the corner was known as "Carpenters Corner".[6]

Usage

The track is used routinely for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car and Power Laps segments on Top Gear. It also serves myriad roles in other portions of the programme, especially in testing cars and in challenges. When testing cars, they are often driven around the airfield by the presenters. Afterwards, they are taken around the test track by The Stig to set a lap time. Occasionally, drag races and speed tests are held on the runway.

Cars acquired during challenges must often post lap times (driven by either one of the presenters or The Stig) around the track against either a target time or a time set by The Stig in another vehicle. During many challenges, the track is used in more unorthodox fashions — for instance, serving as a makeshift motorway lane during a challenge testing tailgating prowess with vans.

Power Laps

Top Gear Test Track

Power Laps is a segment of the programme in which The Stig completes a lap around the track in a reviewed car to compare its performance to previous contenders.

To be eligible to appear on the Power Lap Times board, a vehicle must be a road-legal production car and must have sufficient ride height to clear a standard speed bump (referred to by the presenters as a sleeping policeman),[7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] although occasionally vehicles that cannot appear on the list are still timed. Whenever a non-qualifying vehicle is raced, the time is compared to the official Power Laps but then removed from the board, for example - the Ferrari FXX owned by Michael Schumacher (1:10.7) was taken off the board after because it both failed to meet road legal standards and used slick tyres.

All laps are timed with the car's manufacturer-provided adjustable settings configured for maximum performance — all adjustable suspensions are set at their most efficient, all gear shift maps are at their most aggressive, and driving aids such as traction control are deactivated. Lap times do not offer complete comparisons between the cars, mainly because wet or otherwise poor weather conditions (see time deductions below) can negatively affect lap times.

The Power Board

Time Vehicle Episode
01:13.7 McLaren 675LT Series 23, Episode 2
01:13.8 Pagani Huayra Series 19, Episode 1
01:14.3 BAC Mono Series 20, Episode 2
01:15.1 Ariel Atom V8 500 (moist) Series 16, Episode 1
01:15.1 Dodge Viper ACR Series 23, Episode 1
01:15.7 Audi R8 V10 Plus Series 23, Episode 3
01:15.8 Lamborghini Huracán Series 22, Episode 1
01:16.0 Mercedes-AMG GT R Series 24, Episode 6
01:16.1 Porsche 991 GT3 RS Series 24, Episode 6
01:16.2 McLaren MP4-12C Series 17, Episode 3
01:16.5 Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Series 17, Episode 6
01:16.8 Bugatti Veyron Super Sport Series 15, Episode 5
01:17.1 Gumpert Apollo S Series 11, Episode 6
01:17.3 Ascari A10 Series 10, Episode 9
01:17.5 Mercedes-AMG GT S Series 22, Episode 4
01:17.6 Koenigsegg CCX (with Top Gear Wing) Series 8, Episode 4
01:17.6 Honda NSX (second generation) Series 23, Episode 6
01:17.7 Noble M600 (cold) Series 14, Episode 5
01:17.8 Nissan GT-R (2012) Series 17, Episode 4
01:17.8 Pagani Zonda Roadster F (Clubsport Version) Series 12, Episode 4
01:17.9 Caterham Seven Superlight R500 (cold) Series 12, Episode 6
01:18.3 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Series 12, Episode 4

Due to the size of the list, only the top 20 are shown. See List of Top Gear test track Power Lap Times for the full list.

The second most powerful production car ever featured on Top Gear, the 1001 PS (987 bhp; 736 kW) Bugatti Veyron, was taken around the track by The Stig in Series 12, Episode 4, after 3 years of waiting. However, it disappointed the team by only managing fifth place on the Power Board (currently 16th), an unexpectedly low position ultimately attributed to the car's kerb weight of 1,888 kg (4,162 lb), more than any of the four faster cars.[17] In Series 15 Episode 5 however, the Stig took the 1,200 PS Super Sport version around the track in 1:16.8, thus setting a new lap record.

For the 1:17.6 lap, the Koenigsegg CCX (written as "Koeniggggsenisseggsegnignigsegigisegccx2 with the Top Gear wing" on a much-longer magnetic strip, because none of the presenters were able to spell Koenigsegg) was fitted with an optional rear spoiler to provide downforce after The Stig spun the unmodified version off the track. The Stig allegedly recommended this modification, correctly predicting that the car would then be the fastest ever round the track,[18] although Koenigsegg stated that the improvement was due to other adjustments.[19]

Lap times of non-qualifying vehicles

A "non-qualifying" vehicle is one that does not meet the presenters' requirements to remain on the board; that is, one that is not a "road car", which according to Top Gear means being: available to buy, fully road-legal (lights, indicators, registration, profile tyres, etc.), and street-worthy (i.e. able to negotiate a speed bump).[7]

  1. 0:31.2 – BAE Sea Harrier[20] (Piloted by Lieutenant Nick Arkle RN.[21] Raced against the Saab 9–5 Aero. Took off then flew around track, ended in the air.)
  2. 0:59.0 – Renault R24 Formula One car[10] (Wet)
  3. 1:03.8 – Lotus T125.
  4. 1:08.5 – Pagani Zonda R[22]
  5. 1:08.6 – Aston Martin DBR9[12]
  6. 1:10.6 – Caparo T1[13]
  7. 1:10.7 – Ferrari FXX[15] (Driven by Michael Schumacher on slick tyres)
  8. 1:14:0 – Lamborghini Sesto Elemento[23]
  9. 1:15.2 – Aston Martin Vulcan (Damp)
  10. – CAP 232 Aerobatic Plane[9] (Piloted by British Aerobatic Champion, Tom Cassells.[24] Raced against the Radical SR3 and was shown crossing the finish line in front, however the time was not shown.)
  11. 1:19.1 – Radical SR3[9]
  12. 1:22.6 – Westfield XTR2[8]

The Caparo, Radical, and Westfield are road-legal in the UK but are unable to clear a speed bump. According to Caparo, the car driven by Top Gear was a prototype that didn't feature the adjustable ride height found on the production model. Because The Stig set his time in the non-adjustable prototype and the production version has not been driven around the track, the Caparo's time remains ineligible for the Power Lap board.

Non-Top Gear laps

Occasionally attempts at the Power Lap record are made without the support of the BBC. The following laps of Dunsfold were recorded, filmed and promoted independently of the Top Gear television programme.

  1. 1:05.3 – Nissan ZEOD RC (Driven by Wolfgang Reip in hybrid mode)[25]
  2. 1:09.9 – Ultima GTR720 (Officially an anonymous driver, on slick tyres. Ultima came back on 19 October 2009 and beat both their previous time and that of the £1.1-million Ferrari FXX track car)[26]
  3. 1:12.8 – Ultima GTR720 (Anonymous driver, on road tyres, sponsored by Ultima Sports.)[4]
  4. 1:13.6 – Nissan ZEOD RC (driven by Wolfgang Reip in electric vehicle mode)
  5. 1:14.2 – Ferrari LaFerrari (driven by Jason Plato on 12 June 2015 as "The Stink" in the TFI Friday revival special on a slightly damp track)[27]
  6. 1:17.4 – Caterham 7 CSR 260 (driven by Rob Jenkinson, sponsored by Dunlop Tyres – Injection)[28]

Ultima claim that their motive for running a non-televised lap was that they felt that the GTR was being specifically ignored by the producers of Top Gear.[29] Why Dunlop – Injection chose to run a lap of the Dunsfold circuit is not stated, although it is noticeable that the slower "official" Caterham run was limited by cold tyres.

Celebrity laps

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car (series 1-22)

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car was a recurring segment on Top Gear. During most programmes, a celebrity (usually, but not exclusively of British fame) is interviewed by Jeremy Clarkson. Discussion is normally amusing, and focuses on car-related matters, such as the celebrity's car history. Then Clarkson and the studio audience watch the guest's fastest lap on the Top Gear test track, after which Clarkson puts the celebrity's time on the time board.

Suzuki Liana (2002–2005)

Top Gear's Suzuki Liana

For the first seven series the car driven for lap times was a Suzuki Liana. When first introduced, the car was worth £9995.[30] The car used is stock except for a roll cage and racing seats added as safety measures. Each guest practises with The Stig before making several attempts to complete the test track in the fastest time. The guest does not learn their time until the interview. Practice laps, crashes and the drivers' facial expressions are also shown during the segment.

The two slowest laps on the Liana celebrity list are held by Terry Wogan and Richard Whiteley, both of whom were beaten by Billy Baxter, a Bosnian war veteran who is completely blind. He guided the Liana through the track under direction from Clarkson in the passenger seat in a time of 2 minutes 2 seconds, which was 1.4 seconds quicker than Terry Wogan, and 4 seconds faster than Richard Whiteley.

The fastest non-professional driver was Ellen MacArthur. Unlike most contenders she made no comments to the camera during her lap. She completed the lap in 1 minute 46.7 seconds, beating Jimmy Carr by 0.2 seconds. The current fastest professional driver in the Liana is Daniel Ricciardo with 1:42.2.

The Liana endured considerable abuse from the stars while undertaking their laps. In one incident, actor Michael Gambon clipped the final corner, taking the car onto two wheels. It was done in such a spectacular fashion that the corner was named "Gambon Corner". When Lionel Richie drove the Liana, one of the front wheels fell off, invoking Clarkson to coin the term "pulling a Lionel". Trevor Eve also lost a wheel. The former British transport minister Stephen Ladyman added further injury to the Liana by denting the boot when he lost control during practice and slid backwards into a tyre wall. David Soul destroyed the gearbox of two Lianas during his time on the show due to his rough driving style. Patrick Kielty broke the Liana's front suspension during series 4 when he drove on the grass. Christopher Eccleston was the only celebrity to use a Liana with an automatic transmission, because a hesitant Eccleston admitted he was "only qualified to drive an automatic." To accommodate his needs, Top Gear succeeded in borrowing an automatic Liana, of which only 40 existed in the UK. As a reference to his role in Doctor Who, the automatic Liana was shown materialising onto the racing track, with a TARDIS materialisation sound effect played over it.

The Liana has also been modified on several occasions. David Soul's Liana featured a red police light and a white stripe in reference to his Starsky and Hutch role. Johnny Vegas was provided with L-plates as he had not passed his driving test at the time. When Justin Hawkins came on the show, the Liana he drove had flame decals pasted on it. Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar had an ornate tissue box placed in the back, an homage to Indian drivers.

In its service, the Liana covered 1,600 laps of the circuit; went through 400 tyres; its brakes were changed 100 times; and it required six new clutches, two new hubs, driveshafts, wishbones, struts and gear linkages and a replacement wing mirror.[31]

In July 2005, Formula One driver Damon Hill appeared on the show for the first time as the star. This was kept a surprise to the audience and the viewing public, and when Nigel Mansell came on the show, it was covered up in magazines and on the internet by saying that the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car would be Alan Titchmarsh. Since Mansell's appearance the Liana has remained in use as a vehicle reserved for Formula 1 drivers.

For some of the laps more than one person has been present in the car. This was the case for Clarkson's run when he had both Hammond and Jason Dawe in the car. Trinny and Susannah were both in the car for each other's runs. Denise Van Outen was in the car when Johnny Vaughan did his lap; Van Outen never did a lap driving the car. Clarkson was also present as a navigator for Billy Baxter's laps.

Liana leaderboard
  1. 1:46.7 – Ellen MacArthur
  2. 1:46.9 – Jimmy Carr
  3. 1:47.1 – Simon Cowell
  4. 1:47.3 – Ronnie O'Sullivan
  5. 1:47.8 – Ian Wright
  6. 1:47.9 – Chris Evans
  7. 1:47.9 – Rory Bremner (written as Roree)
  8. 1:48.0 – Trevor Eve
  9. 1:48.0 – Justin Hawkins
  10. 1:48.0 – Paul McKenna
  11. 1:48 – Jodie Kidd[32]
  12. 1:48 – Jay Kay
  13. 1:48 – Patrick Kielty
  14. 1:48.6 – Rob Brydon
  15. 1:48.8 – Stephen Ladyman
  16. 1:49.0 – Neil Morrissey
  17. 1:49.7 – Roger Daltrey (mildly moist)
  18. 1:50.0 – Martin Clunes
  19. 1:50.0 – Jeremy Clarkson (with passengers)
  20. 1:50.0 – Lionel Richie (written as Rich Tea)
  21. 1:50.0 – Cliff Richard
  22. 1:50.0 – Patrick Stewart
  23. 1:50.0 – Jamie Oliver
  24. 1:50.0 – Gordon Ramsay
  25. 1:50.7 – David Walliams
  26. 1:51.0 – Ranulph Fiennes
  27. 1:51.1 – Timothy Spall
  28. 1:51.2 – Carol Vorderman (mildly moist)
  29. 1:51.3 – James Nesbitt
  30. 1:51.4 – Christian Slater
  31. 1:51.5 – Joanna Lumley
  32. 1:51.5 – Omid Djalili
  33. 1:51.5 – Sanjeev Bhaskar (wet) (written as Sanjiv)
  34. 1:52.0 – David Dimbleby
  35. 1:52.0 – Rick Parfitt
  36. 1:52.0 – Eddie Izzard
  37. 1:52.0 – Jordan
  38. 1:52.4 – Christopher Eccleston (automatic) (written as Dr. Who)
  39. 1:52.7 – Tim Rice
  40. 1:53.0 – Vinnie Jones
  41. 1:53.2 – Johnny Vaughan (with passenger Denise van Outen, originally 1:53.4)
  42. 1:53.3 – Fay Ripley (mildly moist)
  43. 1:53.4 – Bill Bailey (wet)
  44. 1:53.5 – Jack Dee
  45. 1:54.0 – Steve Coogan (wet, originally stated to be 1:53)
  46. 1:54.0 – Ross Kemp (wet)
  47. 1:54.0 – Alan Davies (wet)
  48. 1:54.0 – Stephen Fry (moist)
  49. 1:54.0 – Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
  50. 1:54.0 – David Soul
  51. 1:54.0 – Rich Hall
  52. 1:54.0 – Martin Kemp (wet)
  53. 1:54.1 – Trinny Woodall (very wet, with passenger Susannah Constantine)[33]
  54. 1:55.0 – Michael Gambon (wet)
  55. 1:55.4 – Geri Halliwell (written as Harry Jellywell)
  56. 1:55.7 – Susannah Constantine (very wet, with passenger Trinny Woodall)
  57. 1:56.0 – Boris Johnson
  58. 1:57.0 – Anne Robinson
  59. 1:57.0 – Jonathan Ross (penalised for cutting a corner)
  60. 1:57.1 – Davina McCall (very wet)
  61. 1:58.6 – Johnny Vegas (provisionally licensed)
  62. 2:01.0 – Harry Enfield
  63. 2:02.0 – Billy Baxter (blind man with Clarkson as passenger guide)
  64. 2:03.4 – Terry Wogan (originally listed as 2:04)
  65. 2:06.0 – Richard Whiteley

Chevrolet Lacetti (2006–2009)

Starting with the eighth series the Liana was replaced by a Chevrolet Lacetti and a new blank scoreboard. The format was changed so that each star would have five practice laps, and then a final timed lap, with no allowance being given for mishaps.

As a starter for the new car and format, an open day was held for any celebrity who wanted to take part. Seven stars recorded times that day: James Hewitt (who Jeremy and Richard referred to as the 'Well Spoken Man' after failing to recognise him), comedians Alan Davies and Jimmy Carr, rock stars Rick Wakeman and Justin Hawkins, footballer Les Ferdinand, and actor Trevor Eve who topped the time at 1 minute 47.0 seconds. Jimmy Carr, who held second place in the Liana behind Ellen MacArthur, spun off while doing his timed lap and got the second to one slowest time ever around the track at 2 minutes, 8.91 seconds.

On 28 January 2007, Jamie Oliver posted a time of 1:47.70 in melted snow and standing water. Given the rivalry Oliver felt towards fellow celebrity chef, and then-lapboard leader, Gordon Ramsay, Oliver asked that the 4-second allowance normally granted for wet laps be used to put him at the top of the leaderboard "just for a day".

Actress Billie Piper posted a time of 1:48.3 but was deemed by The Stig to have failed to complete a lap properly, as she failed to negotiate some corners. The Stig suggested a three-second time penalty, but after Clarkson consulted the audience, it was decided to let the time stand, which her Doctor Who co-star, David Tennant, tried to overturn on 23 December 2007 show, at the end of the following series. Clarkson remarked that if Tennant had worn a see through top (like Piper for her interview), he "would have been faster than Simon Cowell".

In the 11 November 2007 episode, Simon Cowell retook his status as the holder of the fastest lap with a time of 1:45.90. According to Clarkson, the cameramen said they had never seen such consistency in the practice laps.[34] However, Cowell was knocked off the top spot in Series 11 by Jay Kay, who now holds the fastest time in the Lacetti, although Clarkson selected the fastest of Jay Kay's times rather than the last run, which was slower than Cowell's time, seemingly due to a dislike of Cowell (he claimed earlier in the episode that Cowell had been at the top of the leaderboard for too long). Had this not happened, Cowell would have been knocked off the top by Grand Designs host Kevin McCloud.

Clarkson has referred to the part of the board with times of 1:51 and over as the 'Thespian Zone' due to the propensity for classically trained actors to post slow times.

Series 11 featured a slight change to the format, with two 'Stars' per episode instead of the previous one (although there had been a couple of editions in previous series' with more than one guest). Each of the pair are professionally associated with their fellow guest, usually both either act in or present the same TV show. Unlike previous episodes where two stars have appeared, the stars drove individual laps without the other present in the car.

On 28 March 2010, Richard Hammond attended the demolition of the two 550 ft chimneys at Lafarge Cement's Northfleet Works.[35] On the first episode of Series 15, it was shown that the Lacetti was partially crushed by placing it in the path of one of the falling chimneys.

Lacetti leaderboard
  1. 1:45.81 – Jay Kay[36]
  2. 1:45.85 – Brian Johnson
  3. 1:45.87 – Kevin McCloud
  4. 1:45.9 – Simon Cowell
  5. 1:46.1 – Jennifer Saunders
  6. 1:46.3 – Michael Sheen
  7. 1:46.3 – Gordon Ramsay
  8. 1:46.5 – Usain Bolt
  9. 1:46.9 – Peter Jones
  10. 1:47.0 – Trevor Eve
  11. 1:47.1 – Peter Firth
  12. 1:47.4 – Lawrence Dallaglio
  13. 1:47.4 – Les Ferdinand
  14. 1:47.5 – Eric Bana (wet)
  15. 1:47.6 – James Hewitt[n 1]
  16. 1:47.7 – Jamie Oliver (melted snow and standing water)
  17. 1:47.7 – Hugh Grant
  18. 1:48.0 – Ewan McGregor
  19. 1:48.1 – Rupert Penry-Jones
  20. 1:48.1 – Chris Evans (wet)
  21. 1:48.3 – James Blunt (wet)
  22. 1:48.3 – Billie Piper (cut corner, penalty not added)
  23. 1:48.4 – Justin Hawkins
  24. 1:48.5 – Simon Pegg
  25. 1:48.5 – Theo Paphitis[n 2]
  26. 1:48.7 – Mark Wahlberg
  27. 1:48.7 – Michael McIntyre
  28. 1:48.8 – David Tennant
  29. 1:48.8 – Jay Leno
  30. 1:48.9 – Will Young (damp)
  31. 1:49.4 – Michael Parkinson (written as Sir Michael Parky)
  32. 1:49.6 – Ronnie Wood
  33. 1:49.7 – Harry Enfield
  34. 1:49.8 – Sienna Miller
  35. 1:49.9 – Jools Holland
  36. 1:50.3 – Michael Gambon
  37. 1:50.3 – Alan Davies
  38. 1:50.9 – Steve Coogan (hot)
  39. 1:51.0 – Stephen Fry (hot)
  40. 1:51.2 – Alan Carr
  41. 1:51.4 – Ray Winstone (hot)
  42. 1:51.7 – Keith Allen (very wet)
  43. 1:51.7 – Rob Brydon (wet)
  44. 1.51.8 – Seasick Steve (moist)
  45. 1:51.8 – Justin Lee Collins
  46. 1:52.2 – Tom Jones
  47. 1:52.5 – Guy Ritchie (wet)
  48. 1:52.8 – Dame Helen Mirren
  49. 1:53.4 – James Corden (wet)
  50. 1:54.0 – Kristin Scott Thomas
  51. 1:54.3 – Philip Glenister (wet)
  52. 1:54.7 – Kate Silverton (very wet)
  53. 1:55.3 – Rick Wakeman
  54. 1:57.4 – Boris Johnson (very wet)
  55. 1:57.4 – Fiona Bruce (very wet)
  56. 2:01:0 – Brian Cox
  57. 2:08.9 – Jimmy Carr (spun off on timed lap)

Kia Cee'd (2010–2013)

In the last episode of the fourteenth series of the show, Clarkson revealed that they were thinking about getting a new Reasonably Priced Car for the next series. On 27 June, during the first episode of the fifteenth series, it was revealed to be the Kia Cee'd and, as with the Chevrolet Lacetti, another open day was held to welcome the new car. Nick Robinson, Peter Jones, Al Murray, Bill Bailey, Peta Todd, Louie Spence and Amy Williams were among the initial drivers. Clarkson commonly refers to the Kia phonetically as the "Cee-apostrophe-d".[37] Sophie Raworth, Bill Turnbull and Fiona Bruce all did the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car for Children in Need 2012.

Cee'd leaderboard
  1. 1:42.1 – Matt LeBlanc
  2. 1:42.2 – Rowan Atkinson
  3. 1:42.8 – Michael Fassbender (ice on the second-to-last corner)
  4. 1:42.8 – John Bishop
  5. 1:43.5 – Ross Noble
  6. 1:43.6 – James McAvoy
  7. 1:43.7 – Ryan Reynolds
  8. 1:43.7 – Matt Smith
  9. 1:44.2 – Tom Cruise
  10. 1:44.4 – Amy Macdonald
  11. 1:44.5 – Nick Frost
  12. 1:44.9 – Simon Pegg
  13. 1:45.2 – Cameron Diaz
  14. 1:45.2 – Alex James
  15. 1:45.4 – Mick Fleetwood
  16. 1:45.5 – Rupert Grint
  17. 1:45.9 – Peter Jones
  18. 1:45.9 – Boris Becker (wet)
  19. 1:46.1 – Andy García
  20. 1.46.8 – Bill Turnbull
  21. 1:47.0 – Alastair Campbell
  22. 1:47.7 – Louis Walsh
  23. 1:47.8 – Sophie Raworth
  24. 1:47.8 – Danny Boyle (wet)
  25. 1:48.1 – Al Murray
  26. 1:48.1 – Bob Geldof
  27. 1:49.0 – Jeff Goldblum[n 3]
  28. 1:49.0 – Jonathan Ross (wet)
  29. 1:49.4 – will.i.am (wet) (automatic)
  30. 1:49.8 – Slash (wet)
  31. 1:49.9 – Nick Robinson
  32. 1:49.9 – Peta Todd[n 4] (damp)
  33. 1:50.3 – Amber Heard (automatic)
  34. 1:50.5 – Fiona Bruce
  35. 1:50.8 – Bill Bailey[n 5] (wet)
  36. 1:50.9 – Amy Williams (wet)
  37. 1:53.3 – Johnny Vaughan (wet)
  38. 1:53.69 – Louie Spence (wet)
  39. 1:56.3 – Alice Cooper (wet + automatic)
  40. 1.56.7 – John Prescott (wet + automatic)
  41. 2:09.1 – Damian Lewis (snow)

Vauxhall Astra (2013–2015)

In the first episode of series 20, Clarkson and Hammond revealed their new Reasonably Priced Car – A 1.6 Tech Line Vauxhall Astra. In similar fashion to earlier "new starts", an open day was held for multiple stars to drive the car. Following the abrupt end of Series 22 as a result of Clarkson's dismissal from the show, the Astra was returned to Vauxhall before being auctioned off for charity on 27 December 2015 for £17,800.

Astra leaderboard
  1. 1:44.6 – Olly Murs
  2. 1:44.7 – Nicholas Hoult
  3. 1:44.7 – Aaron Paul
  4. 1:45.1 – Brian Johnson
  5. 1:45.6 – Jimmy Carr[n 6]
  6. 1:46.1 – Hugh Jackman
  7. 1:46.7 – David Haye
  8. 1:46.8 – Warwick Davis
  9. 1:47.1 – Margot Robbie
  10. 1:47.2 – Will Smith
  11. 1.47.8 – Benedict Cumberbatch
  12. 1:48.5 – Rachel Riley
  13. 1:48.5 – Gillian Anderson (Mildly moist)
  14. 1:48.8 – Charles Dance
  15. 1:48.9 – Joss Stone
  16. 1:49.2 – Kiefer Sutherland (wet)
  17. 1:49.4 – James Blunt (very very wet)[n 7]
  18. 1:49.9 – Ron Howard
  19. 1:49.9 – Tom Hiddleston (very wet)
  20. 1:50.1 – Hugh Bonneville (wet)
  21. 1:51.0 – Steven Tyler
  22. 1:51.5 – Mike Rutherford
  23. 1:54.3 - Ed Sheeran (automatic) (wet)
  24. 1.54.5 – Jack Whitehall (automatic)

F1 drivers

All Formula One drivers are put into their own list with regard to lap times because of their exceptional skill level. When the Liana was pulled out from retirement to allow Jenson Button to make a time, Clarkson noted that the Liana would be pulled out for use by Formula 1 drivers in the future.

The original 'black' Stig and the first 'white' Stig have done laps around the track in the Suzuki Liana. Both had their times removed from the leaderboard upon their departure.

The first Stig was Perry McCarthy, who once test drove for the Williams F1 team, and drove for the ill-fated Andrea Moda Formula One team.[38] The second Stig was Ben Collins; in the first episode of Series 13 the Stig was "revealed" to be Michael Schumacher, although this was a joke in the vein of the rest of his appearance on the show.

On 6 July 2011, Sebastian Vettel managed to top the board with a time of 1:44.0. Vettel's lap was the first time someone taking a 'Formula One drivers' line through the first corner was able to top The Stig's time, as Rubens Barrichello took the tighter line. Clarkson also mentioned on this episode that the current Stig has yet to do a lap of the track in the Liana, therefore there is currently no time on the board for the Stig. On 17 February 2013, Lewis Hamilton returned to do a dry lap and lowered the F1 Drivers record by 1.1s to 1:42.9. This was in the wake of his move to Mercedes AMG for the 2013 season. On 8 February 2015, Daniel Ricciardo topped the board with a lap time of 1:42.2. Ricciardo took the tighter line through the first corner, claiming that it covered less distance.

The times and details of the F1 drivers' laps are as follows:

No. Driver Time Series Episode Notes
1 Daniel Ricciardo 1:42.2 22 3 Placed three identical lap times
2 Lewis Hamilton 1:42.9 19 4 Second attempt
3 Mark Webber 1:43.1 20 6 Second attempt
4 Sebastian Vettel 1:44.0 17 3
5 Rubens Barrichello 1:44.3 15 3
6 Ben Collins 1:44.4 8 2 The Stig II (removed from the board during interview with Vettel)
7 Nigel Mansell 1:44.6 7 5
8 Lewis Hamilton 1:44.7 10 8 Wet & oily
9 Jenson Button 1:44.7 8 8 Hot
10 Jenson Button 1:44.9 14 5 Second attempt. Wet
11 Perry McCarthy 1:46.0 N/A N/A The Stig I (removed from the board)
12 Kimi Räikkönen 1:46.1 18 7 Very wet
13 Damon Hill 1:46.3 6 5
14 Mark Webber 1:47.1 6 10 Extremely wet
15 Michael Schumacher DNF 13 1 Joke lap – DNF

Star in a Rallycross Car (series 23)

For series 23, "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" was renamed as "Star in a Rally-Cross Car" segment, with the track expanded to include a "Rallycross" route, featuring the addition of a jump and a water splash obstacle, but retaining the use of some of the corners.[39] Two celebrities were invited to partake in setting a fast lap time with the use of a Mini Rallycross Car. This segment was used only in this series, as following Evans' resignation, it was scrapped due to negative feedback.[40]

Mini Rallycross leaderboard

  1. 1:52.6 – Anthony Joshua
  2. 1:53.9 – Damian Lewis
  3. 1:53.9 – Brian Cox
  4. 1:54.4 – Bear Grylls
  5. 1:56.3 – Gordon Ramsay
  6. 1:57.7 – Kevin Hart
  7. 2:01.4 – Sharleen Spiteri
  8. 2:10.9 – Jesse Eisenberg
  9. 2:12.0 – Patrick Dempsey (monsoon)
  10. 2:16.4 – Paul Hollywood (very wet)
  11. 2:21.6 – Jennifer Saunders (appalling)
  12. 2:27.1 – Greg Davies (abysmal)

Star in a Reasonably Fast Car (series 24-present)

Toyota GT86 (2017-present)

Starting from the twenty-fourth series, the format of "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" was revived following the axing of the rally-cross format, though the name was changed to "Star in a Reasonably Fast Car" for its return.[41] The car introduced for this segment was the Toyota GT86, with both The Stig and Chris Harris going out to instruct the celebrities on how to drive the new car.[42] Footage of several celebrities who drove the car before the first episode of the twenty-fourth series, was aired on spin-off programme Extra Gear.

GT86 leaderboard
  1. 1:35.4 – Chris Hoy
  2. 1:36.1 – Jay Kay
  3. 1.37.5 - Ross Noble
  4. 1:39.5 – Max Whitlock
  5. 1:44.0 – David Tennant
  6. 1:45.7 – Ore Oduba
  7. 1:47.1 – James McAvoy (wet)
  8. 1:47.2 – Frankie Dettori
  9. 1:50.4 – Tinie Tempah (wet)
  10. 1:53.0 – Jon Culshaw
  11. 1:58.7 – Tamsin Greig (wet)
  12. 2:07.9 – Shazia Mirza

Time deductions

Sometimes an additional term is written next to the time (such as H for hot). This indicates that The Stig and the Top Gear team consider that the prevalent weather conditions have affected the lap time or car's performance. The time on the board is not adapted: e.g. 1:50.0 MM (mildly moist) is deemed to be equivalent to 1:48.0 on a normal dry track, but is listed amongst the 1:50 times. The only lap ever done in the snow was that of Damian Lewis, whose time of 2:09.1 holds the record as the slowest ever completed lap; due to this, he was placed on a special separate "snow board". Lewis Hamilton on his first appearance had his lap listed as W+O (wet and oily) due to large slicks of oil left on the track after an earlier car test.

The following list describes how many seconds it costs a car or gives a car an advantage.

Term Conditions Adjustment
Hot (H) Track surface or car performance affected by high temperature or humidity −2 seconds
Mildly moist (MM) or damp (D) Track surface slightly damp with some dry patches after light rain or drizzle −2 seconds
Moist (M) Track surface slightly wet due to shower of rain −3 seconds
Wet (W) or melted snow (MS) Track surface wet due to light rain or melted snow −4 seconds
Very wet (VW) Track surface wet (with large puddles) due to heavy rain −6 seconds
Very very wet or flipping wet (FW)[43] Track surface wet (with flood water) due to heavy rain −8 seconds
Snow (Snow) Track covered in snow (partially defrosted) Unknown
(only used once; listed on its own board)

Maps

Appearance in games

On 24 October 2007, it was announced that players of the PlayStation 3 game, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, would be able to download episodes of Top Gear within the game, and that the test track would be one of the included circuits in the full game (Gran Turismo 5).[44][45]

A very basic yet driveable version of the track appeared around 2003 for the PC hardcore racing simulation Grand Prix Legends. There is also a version of the test track for the realistic PC racing simulation rFactor, produced with permission from Dunsfold park.[46] The track has also been produced as an add-on for World Racing 2.[47]

Top Gear have also added a basic version of the test track on the games section of their own website, with the title of "Be a star in our reasonably priced car". A Top Gear mobile phone game also features the track.

The game Gran Turismo 5, developed by Polyphony Digital features a fully rendered version of the Top Gear track. Players have the ability to drive and race on the track.

The track also appeared in Forza Motorsport 4; the Top Gear logo appeared in a trailer for Forza 4 on the Top Gear website.[48] Cars were shown racing in the follow-through section during the E3 2011 trailer.[49] It is known that in the actual game there is options to race on the full track, race both of the rings in separate races and race on Top Gear's drag race mile. There is also an achievement in Forza 4 for completing a lap of the Top Gear Test Track in the Kia Cee'd fittingly named "Star in a reasonably priced car".

Forza Motorsport 4's sequel, Forza Motorsport 5, also features the Top Gear test track. The track layouts from Forza Motorsport 4 return, with the exception of the drag race mile, which has been removed. Forza Motorsport 5's sequel, Forza Motorsport 6, also features the Top Gear Test Track.

Top Gear - Extreme Parking, Android game.[50]

In Forza Motorsport 6, the lastest saga sequel, the track is featured again, with the full track and both separated rings. This time, the rings are able to race frontward and backward. All the layouts are available with sunny or rainy weather

Notes

  1. ↑ James Hewitt's name was written on the scoreboard as the "Well spoken man" after the presenters failed to recognise him.
  2. ↑ written as Theo Pamphlet
  3. ↑ Goldblum did not exit third gear during his lap.
  4. ↑ Listed as "Peta 23 From Essex" on leaderboard
  5. ↑ Listed as "Angelina Jolie" on leaderboard since series 15, episode 2, referring to Bailey's insistence on wearing an "Angelina Jolie" name tag during the open day.
  6. ↑ written as Jimmy Crash
  7. ↑ The entry on the board says 'FW' (for F***ing Wet)

References

  1. ↑ "Dunsfold Park Receives Consent for New Homes". Dunsfold Park. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "FAQs on the Dunsfold Park Masterplan". Dunsfold Park Masterplan. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Series 1 episode 1". Top Gear. Series 1. Episode 1. 20 October 2002. BBC Two. Richard Hammond: "Nought to sixty times? Absolutely meaningless. Top speed figures? Totally meaningless. What really matters is how fast a car can lap a test track and fortunately, we've got our own test track for that very purpose. Just under two miles of fast straights and tricky corners, designed by the test drivers at Lotus."
  4. 1 2 Vijay, Pattni (30 October 2007). "Ultima GTR smashes Top Gear lap record". www.autotrader.co.uk. Trader Media Group. Retrieved 10 January 2008.
  5. ↑ The Big Book of Top Gear 2009. ISBN 978-1-84607-463-9
  6. ↑ "Driving the Top Gear test track feature – Features – Top Gear". Top Gear. 24 October 2007. Archived from the original on 31 August 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  7. 1 2 "Top Gear Power Laps". Top Gear. Archived from the original on 1 June 2009. Retrieved 16 June 2009. In order to qualify for the power laps board, a car must be road legal and be a car. For this reason the F1 car (0:59.0), Aston Martin DBR9 (1:08.6) and Sea Harrier (0:31.2) do not appear.
  8. 1 2 "Series 1 episode 3". Top Gear. Series 1. Episode 3. 3 November 2002. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "We said you could only take a car on that track if it's road legal."
  9. 1 2 3 "Series 1 episode 9". Top Gear. Series 1. Episode 9. 22 December 2002. BBC Two. Richard Hammond: "We specify everything that goes on our board here has to be road legal."
  10. 1 2 "Series 5 episode 1". Top Gear. Series 5. Episode 8. 19 December 2004. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "The thing is though, this is only for cars with ashtrays and noses that you can get over the... uh, speed bumps, it's only for road cars."
  11. ↑ "Series 5 episode 9". Top Gear. Series 5. Episode 9. 26 December 2004. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "You can use it on the road because... the test that we have for our Power Board, 'cause only road cars can go on this, is whether they can get over a speed bump."
  12. 1 2 "Series 6 episode 1". Top Gear. Series 6. Episode 6. 3 July 2005. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "You can't buy this car so it has no place on our board." James May: "But he's right though, those are the rules."
  13. 1 2 "Series 10 Episode 5". Top Gear. Series 10. Episode 5. 11 November 2007. 16:52 minutes in. BBC Two. You know the rules, James. If a car can't get over a sleeping policeman it can't go on that board. We've always said that and look at the nose on this, I mean never mind a sleeping policeman, you'd rip that off if you ran over Gandhi.
  14. ↑ "Series 10 episode 9". Top Gear. Series 10. Episode 9. 9 December 2007. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "Now because this has a hydraulic lifting nose, which we can see here, it is able to get over speed bumps and that means it is a road car and that means it can go on our board."
  15. 1 2 "Series 13 episode 2". Top Gear. Series 13. Episode 2. 28 June 2009. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "We subsequently discovered he was doing that on slick tyres. Now we have rules on this Power Board here, ok? You can't use slicks, so this time is coming off."
  16. ↑ "Series 16 episode 3". Top Gear. Series 16. Episode 3. 6 February 2011. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "Not the Volvo obviously because this board is for production cars only."
  17. ↑ "Series 12 episode 4". Top Gear. Series 12. Episode 4. 23 November 2008. BBC Two. James May: "I think it's too heavy to put in the really, really fast time."
  18. ↑ "Series 8 episode 8". Top Gear. Series 8. Episode 8. 14 May 2006. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "After the accident, Stig said he reckons this car would be 4 seconds faster than it was if it had a big wing on the back."
  19. ↑ Svensson, Gunnar (5 June 2006). "Koenigsegg får Top Gear-vinge". www.bilsport.se. Bilsport. Retrieved 12 March 2007.
  20. ↑ "Series 3 Episode 3". Top Gear. Series 3. Episode 3. 9 November 2003. 46:33 minutes in. BBC Two. James May: "The pilot did go a bit wide in some of the corners, didn't he?" Jeremy Clarkson: "He did say, with a Harrier, it would be possible to actually follow the confines of the track and it would still be faster than the car, but we said no no no, go for it."
  21. ↑ The Man In The White Suit, Harper-Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-732796-6
  22. ↑ "Series 16 Episode 4". Top Gear. Series 16. Episode 4. 13 February 2011. 32:51 minutes in. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson: "It's not a road car. It has no place on our board."
  23. ↑ "Lamborghini to build Sesto Elemento". www.topgear.com. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  24. ↑ "Tom Cassells". www.skyboard.co.uk. Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 26 January 2008.
  25. ↑ "Nissan ZEOD RC Le Mans Racer Laps Top Gear Track In 1:05.3: Video". High Gear Media. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
  26. ↑ "Ultima claims Top Gear lap record | Car News". evo. 19 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  27. ↑ Viknesh Vijayenthiran. "Ferrari LaFerrari Sets Unofficial 1:14.2 Lap Time For Top Gear Track: Video". MotorAuthority. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
  28. ↑ Agency Republic. "Dunlop – Injection, Episode 11". Injection.tv. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  29. ↑ "Ultima Sports Ltd". Ultimasports.co.uk. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  30. ↑ "Programme One – 2002-10-20". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 July 2004. Retrieved 3 July 2009.
  31. ↑ "Series 8 episode 1". Top Gear. Series 8. Episode 1. 7 May 2006. BBC Two.
  32. ↑ "Series 2, Episode 8". Top Gear. Series 2. Episode 8. 6 July 2003. Event occurs at 29:34. BBC Two. Jeremy Clarkson to Jodie Kidd: "We don't have points on this, but actually you were point three of a second faster than Jay Kay."
  33. ↑ "Series 5 episode 9". Top Gear. Series 5. Episode 9. 26 December 2004. 25:21 minutes in. BBC Two.
  34. ↑ "Series 10 Episode 5". Top Gear. Series 10. Episode 5. 11 November 2007. 25:10 minutes in. BBC Two.
  35. ↑ "Going, going GONE!". Gravesend Reporter. 31 March 2010. Retrieved 6 May 2010.
  36. ↑ "Series 11 Episode 6". Top Gear. Series 11. Episode 6. 27 July 2008. 33:47 minutes in. BBC Two. Clarkson: It was a one forty five eight one
  37. ↑ Our Guide to the Top Gear Track - Top Gear
  38. ↑ Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way!, Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN 1-84425-018-0
  39. ↑ http://www.ovenden-allworks.co.uk/ovenden-allworks--top-gear-rally-cross-new-track.html
  40. ↑ https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/2167684/bbc-bosses-wipe-all-traces-of-chris-evans-from-the-new-series-of-top-gear/
  41. ↑ Dan Elsom (10 March 2017). "Top Gear promises to ’cause havoc’ as Reasonably Priced Car undergoes extreme transformation". The Sun. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  42. ↑ http://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/773559/Top-Gear-Ore-Oduba-crash-BBC-Breakfast
  43. ↑ "Series 21, Episode 5". Top Gear. Series 21. Episode 5. 2 March 2014. 49:01 minutes in. BBC Two. That is FW. Stands for flipping wet
  44. ↑ "BBC Top Gear goes virtual on PS3". BBC News. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  45. ↑ "Top Gear on GT5". TopGear.com. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  46. ↑ "Top Gear track permission". 6 March 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008.
  47. ↑ "Top Gear Track – Dunsfold Airfield | World Racing 2 | games.reveur.de – all about racing games". games.reveur.de. Retrieved 10 October 2010.
  48. ↑ "Forza 4 news – Video: your first glimpse of Forza 4 – 2010 – BBC Top Gear". Topgear.com. 13 December 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  49. ↑ "Forza Motorsport 4 Video Game, E3 2011: Trailer | Video Clip | Game Trailers & Videos". GameTrailers.com. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  50. ↑ Top Gear: Extreme Parking - Play With Games(11/30/2016)

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