8 /10 1 Votes
No. of episodes 1 First episode date 28 September 2010 Language English Networks BBC, Nine Network, BBC HD | 7.9/10 IMDb Running time 90 minutes Number of episodes 1 Audio format Stereophonic sound | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Presented by Jeremy Clarkson
Richard Hammond
James May
Shane Jacobson
Ewen Page
Steve Pizzati
The Stig Country of origin United Kingdom
Australia Original network Nine Network (AUS) BBC 2/BBC HD (UK) Picture format 16:9, 576i (SDTV) (Aus) 1080i (HDTV) (UK) Cast Jeremy Clarkson, James May, Richard Hammond, Steve Pizzati Similar Top Gear Australia, Top Gear: US Special, Top Gear: Bolivia Special, Top Gear of the Pops, Top Ground Gear Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Top Gear Australia: Ashes Special (also known simply as Top Gear: Ashes Special) is a special episode of the motoring series Top Gear Australia and Top Gear (2002 TV series). It is part of the Channel Nine revamp of Top Gear Australia, which sees Australian hosts Ewen Page, Steve Pizzati and Shane Jacobson, take on the hosts of Top Gear, James May, Richard Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson in a series of challenges involving the best and worst of British motoring, as well as a rally, and driving through a safari park. Other challenges include a drag race between a Holden VE Commodore ute and a standard looking Ford Transit van customised (unknowingly to the Australian presenters) with a Jaguar XJ220 engine, and the double car race seen in Series 11 of Top Gear UK. An edited version of the Ashes Special was shown in the UK on 30 January 2011 as part of Series 16, Episode 2 of Top Gear UK.
Contents
Format
The hosts of Top Gear: Australia Shane Jacobson, Ewen Page and Steve Pizzati are invited by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May to come to England and experience the best and worst of British motoring.
Preparation
The three Australian hosts are instructed to each get three cars on Britains worst car list and head to a Safari park. They experience Lions and Monkeys. After finishing they are instructed to repeat the trip in the Peel P50, the worlds smallest ever road car. After finishing the trip, the trio are encountered by a Rhino that attempts to attack the cars. In the British version, the Australians were brought on in convict trucks, in reference to the history of Australia.
Round 1: Van Drag Race
Challenge: A drag race involving the two nations most used vans. The Bruce's using a HSV Maloo, whilst the Nigel's used a (supposedly) lowly Ford Transit which turned out to be powered by a Jaguar XJ220 engine. Winner: The Nigel's.
Round 2: Double decker cars
Challenge: A circuit race with double decker cars from Top Gear. The Australians had the top car placed upside down to "make them feel at home. Each team also had another driver. The Nigel's had Jodie Kidd, whilst the Bruce's had Darryn Lyons Winner: The Nigel's.
Round 3: Synchronized Donuts
Challenge: Two hosts attempt to do donuts in sync with their partners. James May and Richard Hammond were elected as scorers for the event. The Australians won after Hammond mistakenly held up score cards totalling 11 points instead of the (pre-arranged) 1.1 as May did. Winner: The Bruce's.
Round 4: Sheep Herding
Challenge: To herd a flock of sheep into a pen using off-road bikes. The Bruce's were mistakenly given (better) Austrian KTM machines, whilst the Nigel's, using BSA's, lost a large number of points for completely losing the sheep Winner: The Bruce's.
Round 5: Rally race
Challenge: A rally circuit in the English country side. James May looking rather like The Stig! Winner: The Nigel's.
Overall
Although admittedly, the British presenters cheated in every event they won; the final score was 3-2 to the Nigel's.
Presenters
The three normal hosts of Top Gear returned:
The three new Australian hosts of Top Gear were: