The BBC has given Top Gear fans a first glimpse of the final episode of the show to feature Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
The footage was shelved after Clarkson was suspended and then axed following his assault on a producer, but will air on BBC2 in the next few weeks.
It is the last time the trio will be seen on screen together – on the BBC at least – following Clarkson’s departure.
The 30-second clip shows the three on familiar form churning up the countryside and appearing to destroy at least one caravan. They are all seen wearing dinner suits for a challenge in which the last to arrive, says Clarkson, “will be doing the after-dinner speech”. The presenter is later seen driving wearing goggles.
May says: “I think we might have lost sight of the rules of this race slightly.”
The BBC said the episode would feature two films. Hammond and May returned to the studios to record links for the programmes without Clarkson.
“In the first film, Jeremy, Richard and James immerse themselves in the lifestyle of the traditional classic car enthusiast,” said a spokesman.
“Armed with affordable classics including a Fiat 124 Spider, a Peugeot 304 Cabriolet and an MGB GT, the trio set off on an adventure that includes brown beer, breakdowns and a hair-raising classic car show.
“In the second film, Clarkson, Hammond and May try to become lifestyle leisure enthusiasts with the help of some incredibly cheap lifestyle leisure vehicles.
“Restricted to a maximum budget of £250, the trio buy three massive-mileage SUVs and then embark on a series of action-packed challenges that include battling with the Stig’s ‘Leisure Activity Cousin’ and a race with terrifying consequences for the loser.”
The future of the show remains unclear, with the BBC keen for Hammond and May to return, but the pair thought more likely to join Clarkson at a rival broadcaster without using the Top Gear name.
