The Top Gear Boys are planning to help Britain warm up for the 2012 Olympics with their own ’2011 Olympics’ at next month’s Top Gear Live shows in London and Birmingham.
Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond say they will be showing the International Olympics Committee a few alternative sports at the Top Gear Live shows this year, headlined by what the team call ‘a cross between Chariots of Fire and Ben Hur’.
This new Top Gear Live challenge will be the world’s first ever Moped Charioteering Race. It will see the boys race one another using special chariots designed by themselves – consisting of, yes, a bank of four 125cc mopeds…
Each is, apparently, capable of ‘dangerous’ speeds.
There are other Top Gear Live Olympics challenges too: Car Curling involves full-size cars on castors that are swept to the target by James ‘Captain Slow’ May driving a motorised sweeper.
A Top Gear Live version of Splat the Rat is also planned, using mechanical splatters plus remote radio-controlled cars replacing the ‘rat’.
The new events have been planned to spice up Top Gear Live and help make it bigger than ever.
‘Since none of us managed to get tickets in the Olympic ballot,’ said Jeremy Clarkson, ‘we thought we’ll do our own running, skipping and throwing event but with cars… and flames… explosions… and motorised chariots and things.
‘How hard can it be? Who knows, Danny Boyle might get some inspiration for his Opening Ceremony.’
The usual blend of high-octane excitement is also planned within each 80-minute showcase event. The new Lotus Motorsport designed test tracks are set to showcase some of the world’s most expensive and exclusive cars too, including the McLaren MP4-12C and McLaren F1, Lamborghini Aventador, Ferrari 599 GTO and Aston Martin V12 Vantage.
Top Gear Live runs from 11-3 November at Birmingham’s NEC, and 24-27 November at London ExCeL. Tickets cost from £49.
