www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzBcQ93e6Ns

The BBC has been playing with this idea for years now. They’ve shot pilots, scrapped them, shot more pilots, scrapped those, and even flew The Stig himself over to show the lads how to drive. So here’s the first glimpse of the first broadcasted attempt to recreate the magic that is the original Top Gear. It’s the first official trailer for the show, featuring comedians/actual racing drivers Adam Ferrara, Tanner Foust and Rutledge Wood.

Fellow blogger Brendan Jack has called it Lost in Translation, which is about the best description I can think of. The thing is, with budget and the right crew, it’s not rocket science to film cars and make them look good. What is really tough is to replicate the chemistry between the personalities of Clarkson, Hammond and Captain Slow (May). Many think it can’t be done. I think I’m one of those many.

In case you haven’t seen our exclusive interview with Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, it’s here.

Ciro De Siena

Coming across a Pagani Zonda F Roadster in the metal, in South Africa, is a bit like finding a Panda in Uganda. Let’s just quickly get to grips with this thing: it’s on sale at Future Exotics, in the V&A Waterfront, for a cool R20 million. Depending on the exchange rate, obviously. This particular Zonda F is actually the ‘Cinqe’ model, simply meaning ‘five’ in Italian; only five will ever be produced. Ever. The body is made of carbon-titanium fibre, well, because carbon fibre is just so last millennium. The engine is sourced from AMG, and ensures the car reaches 100km/h in 3.4 seconds and doesn’t stop before it hits 350. Small wonder then that it’s fitted with a rosary. The owner’s manual recommends giving it a rub before you switch the traction control off. Just between your thumb and index finger, apparently.

Fascinating.

You could be one of these lucky audience members!

Last week we revealed that at last year’s show, Jeremy Clarkson found an enormous sex toy in Sasha Martinengo’s luggage. This week’s MPH Show fact is…did you know South Africa was the very first place outside of the UK that the Top Gear lads chose for their road show? Bet you feel a bit more special now, don’t you. Well you have just over a week left to get your tickets.

Head over to www.mphshow.co.za as soon as you can and read up all about it. If you’re too lazy to do that, click ‘read more’ below and you’ll find that we’ve copy/pasted all the details you need to know. There’s also a bonus opportunity to watch me interview Richard Hammond, sporting a hideous goatee (me, not Richard). Even more good news, I’ve never worn a goatee ever again.

No, that isn’t photoshopped and yes, that is Jeremy Clarkson, in South Africa, holding an enormous sex toy. That is also Richard Hammond holding some lady’s unmentionables. The best part about this whole scene is they’ve discovered these goodies in Sasha Martinengo’s luggage. Oh what fun to be a Top Gear presenter.

Besides the laddish pranks, Top Gear live is certainly worth a look, even if cars are about as exciting for you as choosing tiles with your missus. For your money you will see ludicrously expensive supercars doing doughnuts in an impossibly tight space. You will see the Stig outrun aliens in old muscle cars, using a little Rage buggy which sounds like the devil screaming. You will be subjected to a 3D finale which will scare the willies out of you and you will leave feeling absolutely bloody wonderful.

And we should know, we haven’t missed a show since they started coming to SA. Head over to www.mphshow.co.za and get moving, this one’s going to sell out.