The Grand Tour And Top Gear – The Fans Choose Their Favourite Episodes
This article is all about you, our beloved fans and fellow motoring enthusiasts. Now it has been confirmed that the 2nd episode of The Grand Tour’s 4th season has been delayed partly due to television studios being shut down, but also given the fact that producer Andy Wilman is recovering from coronavirus.
We took to social media to find out what you all thought was the best adventures that Clarkson, Hammond and May have been on during their tenure on our screens.
Bolivia Special, Top Gear Season 14
A great first shout here from James and one we all remember fondly here at Grand Tour Nation. The episode began with Clarkson, Hammond and May being dropped deep into the rainforest of Bolivia, with only the three 4×4’s they had bought locally for a maximum of £3,500 each.
https://twitter.com/sherIockian/status/1234238791520604160
They attempt to drive from the heart of the rainforest in Bolivia all the way to the coast of Chile. During their adventure, they encountered drug lords and the debilitating effects of high altitude – while all of their adventures appear very challenging, this one has got to be up there as one of the toughest.
Patagonia Special, Top Gear Season Season 22
The show was originally presented with the challenge to drive from a hotel in Bariloche (West Argentina) to a lodge which was known as a hideout for Butch Cassidy used back in the day. The presenters soon found out the actual objective was to drive more than 1600 miles to Ushuaia (the southern tip of Argentina) as a homage to the V8 engine.
The Top Gear Patagonia Special had the most insane ending of all. They had to run away from Argentina or be attacked by a mob of 300+😰
— Olvah (@onyiegofundme) April 15, 2020
Things didn’t go quite to plan when the news broke in Argentina that Clarkson’s number plate was ‘H982 FKL‘, which was thought to be a reference to the Falklands war which began in 1982. Soon enough, aggressive protests erupted throughout the country causing the cast and crew to abandon their shoot early and having to flee across the Chilean border. The three vehicles, a Lotus Espirit, a Ford Mustang Mach 1 and the infamous Porsche 928 were abandoned.
The Polar Special, Top Gear Season 9
Quite clearly a classic Top Gear special, and easily (alongside Bolivia) one the toughest specials the boys have ever had to contend with.
https://twitter.com/ActingTheGom/status/1234263230417162241
The episode chronicles Clarkson, Hammond and May attempting to race from the Northern territories of Canada all the way to the North Pole, 450 miles away. Jeremy and James were using a specially designed Toyota Hilux from Arctic Trucks while Richard was travelling using a sled pulled by a team of dogs.
Top Gear Polar challenge, my favourite Top Gear episode ever. I am slightly in love with James May. Tis hilarious
— annie crisp (@CrispAnnie) April 22, 2019
The terrain encountered by both teams was some of the toughest on earth, with the massive cold, huge snow boulders, weak ice and mind-boggling -65 degrees Celcius temperatures. This was prime Top Gear and something that we’re sure the boys won’t be rushing to repeat.
Colombia Special, Grand Tour Season 3
Grand Tour Colombia Special is the best thing thats been on TV for many years👏🏻
— 💙 (@DajerbalJames) January 31, 2019
The first Grand Tour special on our list and this one is a doozie – with the presenters being dropped into the wilds of South America in an attempt to become wildlife photographers. In their Fiat Panda 4×4 (May), Jeep Wrangler (Clarkson) and Chevrolet Silverado Monster Truck (Hammond) they set off for an adventure travelling the length of Colombia.
Watching the Grand Tour Colombia special. I can't help but love it.
— Hieronymus Kosh (@JaseCurtis) May 11, 2019
Along the way they encounter local villagers who have sex with donkeys, the remains of Pablo Escobar’s drug empire and the incredible natural beauty that Colombia has to offer
Seamen, Grand Tour Season 4
The most recent of the Grand Tour specials, and one of the first in our memories that doesn’t really involve any cars – not that we’re complaining.
https://twitter.com/alicia_klj/status/1251802914915594240
Their route begins in Cambodia at Siem Reap with the challenge to sail to Vietnam without using the sea and only the maze of winding rivers that entails Cambodia.
@JeremyClarkson @RichardHammond @MrJamesMay I've just watched the episode of The Grand Tour Seaman and I haven't laughed so much for a long time, brilliant viewing!!
— Paul Webber (@PaulWebber10) April 17, 2020
The boys wind downriver to Tonlé Sap lake before the rule of not using the sea goes completely out of the window when the boys get incredible lost. They then decide to cross Mekong Delta which leads them to Vietnam where they arrive at their final destination, the port of Vung Tau in the south of Vietnam.
Botswana Special, Top Gear Season 10
Who can forget Oliver? The absolute tiny soldier of a car that Richard Hammond fell in love with during Top Gear’s Botswana special and a car that he had imported back to the UK and still has in his collection to this day.
the top gear botswana special is honestly a classic
— lara (@astoldbylara) March 12, 2020
This specific trip saw the trio cross Botswana in its entirety, in the most unfitting cars possible – the Opel Kadett known as Oliver (Hammond), Mercedes-Benz 230E (May) and the Lancia Beta Coupe (Clarkson).
The trio goes to Botswana to see if they can find a two-wheel vehicle each which will take them across the ‘leafy lanes’ of Botswana for less than £1500. The trio started out at the Zimbabwean Border and head towards the Makgadikgadi Salt Planes once they have bought their vehicles. James chose his Mercedes due to its reputation on the African continent, Jeremy chose his Lancia Beta Coupe due to Lancia’s other models being successful rally contenders and Richard chose Oliver… seemingly for no real reason at all. The backup car was a Volkswagen Beetle, a vehicle neither Clarkson, Hammond or May would be seen dead in.
One of my fave Top Gear episodes ever. The Botswana Special.
And when African Stig came out I knew it could only be one person, I knew it could only be Gugu. I watch this quite often. Saved on the PVR for years pic.twitter.com/l5i95NQ72L— Sanet Croucamp (@SanetCroucamp) February 16, 2020
Somehow, in their unlikely band of unsuitable vehicles, all three presenters made it to the finish line against all odds.
One of my fave Top Gear episodes ever. The Botswana Special.
And when African Stig came out I knew it could only be one person, I knew it could only be Gugu. I watch this quite often. Saved on the PVR for years pic.twitter.com/l5i95NQ72L— Sanet Croucamp (@SanetCroucamp) February 16, 2020
We know there are plenty more specials to choose from and here are just a selection of seemingly the fans favourites. As with anything, we’re sure this will divide opinions – let us know your thoughts in the comments and in the meantime, I’m off to binge some more specials.
