A total of seven presenters have been revealed as the new hosts of the flagship motoring show.
Motorsport guru and Formula 1 commentator Eddie Jordan, German racing driver Sabine Schmitz, motoring journalist Chris Harris and car reviewer Rory Reid will join Chris Evans.
Friends actor Matt LeBlanc was announced last week, and trusty sidekick The Stig will also return.
Evans said: “We really do have a bit of everything for everyone.
“A fellow lifelong petrolhead from the other side of the pond in Matt; a fearless speed-demon in the irrepressible and effervescent Sabine; the encyclopedic, funny and wonderfully colourful character that is EJ; Chris, one of the world’s top no-nonsense car reviewers; and Rory, who simply blew me away in his audition and fully deserves his place on the team.”
Eddie Jordan
The 67-year-old former racing driver started his career in the 1970s and ended up with his own team.
He’s been on our screens recently as part of the BBC’s Formula 1 coverage.
He’ll bring his vast knowledge and experience to the show.
“I’m giddy with excitement to be joining Chris and the team,” he says.
“Cars are in my DNA and although I’ve been fortunate enough to accomplish most things I ever aspired to in motorsport, presenting Top Gear is quite simply the icing on the cake.”
Sabine Schmitz
Viewers of the previous incarnation of Top Gear will be familiar with German racing driver Sabine Schmitz.
She managed to beat Jeremy Clarkson’s Jaguar lap time around the famous Nürburgring test track in a Ford Transit van.
She’s hosted motoring shows in Germany and has been a racing driver since an early age.
“I grew up next to the Nurburgring and have been racing for most of my life,” she says, “so the chance to combine both driving and filming was too good an opportunity to pass up.”
Chris Harris
Journalist and racing driver Chris Harris has built up quite a following with his YouTube car reviews.
He says: “Top Gear is the thing that helped shape my life with cars, my perception of cars and my obsession with cars, and I’m raring to give it a go.
“I’m also quite gobby and happy to get into trouble, so I’m hoping I can underpin the programme with journalistic credibility but still cause some mischief.”
Funny old world. pic.twitter.com/RoVHUk7By5
— chris harris (@harrismonkey) February 11, 2016
Rory Reid
Last year members of the public were invited to send in video applications to land a role as one of the show’s new presenters.
Journalist Rory Reid did just that, and now he’s on the show.
“To be the only person to make it through the open audition process makes me immensely proud,” he says.
“I’ve been a Top Gear fan for decades, but more than that, I live and breathe cars in a way that is perfectly compatible with the show.”
The video above, where he raps a car review, proves he could be a very interesting addition – plus he’s done some TV work before as presenter of Gadget Geeks on Sky 1.
Took the bins out. Fed my kid breakfast. Became a Top Gear presenter. Standard Thursday.
— Rory Reid (@MrRoryReid) February 11, 2016
Chris Evans
Main star Chris Evans was announced last summer and has been building the new show for the past few months.
The experienced presenter looks likely to lead the show while also retaining presenting duties on his Radio 2 breakfast show.
Matt LeBlanc
The former Friends star’s arrival was announced last week.
LeBlanc is another familiar face to Top Gear viewers, having been a guest in the show’s “Reasonably Priced Car” twice and becoming the fastest celebrity to go round the test track.
He also presented the recent standalone spin-off Top Gear: The Races, where he led fans through some of the most memorable racing moments from the previous 22 series.
He said: “As a car nut and a massive fan of Top Gear, I’m honoured and excited to be a part of this iconic show’s new chapter. What a thrill!”
The Stig
Some say he’s wanted by the CIA and that he sleeps upside down like a Bat.
All we know is he’s called the Stig, and the ‘tame racing driver’ returns for the new show.
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