Yesterday on the Twittershere, Evo magazine contributor and ace wheelman Richard Meaden posted the following..
This is what Top Gear should be like: GT2 RS v R8 GT v SLS, flat-out on the road
..with a link to the spiffing video you see above. I can’t speak a word of German, but after a few minutes watching Deutsche-Hammond doing his best Troy Queef impression on a snowy Alp I understood what Meaden is suggesting; an hour of this with Clarkson and his talented photography team at the healm would be motoring-telly heaven.
Top Gear script editor Richard Porter was quick to point out that this kind of content may have geek-appeal, but the BBC would likely lose most of it’s viewers if Top Gear went 100% hardcore on us. A shame, but probably true.
So, why are we starved of a regular fix of well made car-telly? Chris Harris, Meaden’s fellow Evo magazine writer tweeted..
There are 73,000 different cookery programmes on the beeb, and one about cars.
So, is there not room for more car programming at the Beeb? Like most of us, I’m often found scouring Youtube to get my fix of car video these days, and it’s clear there’s no lack of presenting talent out there (particularly from the Evo stable). Harris himself has a solid reputation for finely balancing crib-sheet geekery with sheer enthusiasm for driving on screen. It’s infectious to watch.
I think it’s unlikely (and unrealistic in the current safety/efficiency climate) anything focused on the more hardcore petrolhead will ever see it’s way onto mainstream telly. However, I’ve enough faith in those behind Top Gear that they must realise it’s current format – if the Iraq Christmas Special is anything to go by – has officially Jumped the Shark (if it is to still be judged as a car programme at all).
Let’s hope those in control of the license payers only motoring fix are brave enough to take the format back to basics sooner rather than later – I’m pretty sure the viewers will remain glued to their seats on a Sunday night.