TOP GEAR

Top Gear poster

Top Gear

Year: 1978 First Air: 1978-07-13
Overview

Top Gear is a fast-paced motoring series that mixes serious car journalism with big laughs and bigger stunts. Each episode features road tests, buyer advice, and sharp opinions on everything from everyday hatchbacks to rare supercars. The presenters push vehicles in unusual challenges, take on epic road trips, and put performance machines through timed laps on a dedicated test track, often with help from the mysterious driver known as The Stig.

Synopsis

Top Gear is a British automotive magazine show that turns car reviewing into cinematic entertainment. In addition to evaluating new models and debating what makes a great driver’s car, the hosts stage elaborate challenges that test vehicles in the real world, from budget build contests to long-distance journeys across tough terrain. Supercars and iconic classics are taken to the limit on a private circuit where lap times offer a clear benchmark, frequently set by the anonymous test driver, The Stig. The series also spotlights design, engineering, and car culture, balancing practical buying talk with outrageous experiments and friendly rivalries among the presenters. With a style that combines documentary elements, comedy, and high production values, Top Gear has evolved through different hosting lineups while keeping its focus on the joy, frustration, and obsession that cars inspire.

Cast
Trivia
Three presenters, outrageous car challenges, and a famously silent racing driver define this motoring favorite.
Q1: Which Top Gear presenter is nicknamed 'Captain Slow'?
Answer: James May
The nickname reflects the show’s running jokes and the distinct on-screen personas that powered its chemistry and rivalries.
Q2: In the segment title 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car,' what kind of guest is invited to set a lap time?
Answer: A celebrity
The segment popularized a simple competitive hook—comparing famous guests on equal machinery—helping make lap times a mainstream talking point.