The third episode is in the books and it was somewhat anticlimactic as everybody already knew Red Bull Formula One driver Daniel Ricciardo had set the new Top Gear test track record with a sizzling lap time of 1:42.2 in the Reasonably Priced Car – as it was widely tweeted and touted prior to the actual arrival of the show’s airing this week. Still, it was impressive to see Ricciardo tossing around the Suzuki Liana like a ragdoll on the famous Top Gear test track/airport runway complex. Ricciardo’s time obliterated the previous record of 1:42.9 set by fellow Formula One driver – and current reigning champion – Lewis Hamilton.
The other highlight of the show was one of the typical challenges between the boys – this time with ambulances – as the boy spitted three of their personal ambulance choices against a standard UK version of an ambulance in a series of challenges. Richard selected a rather mundane Chevrolet van while Jeremy went for a Porsche 944 Turbo and James chose a Ford Scorpio hearse. Jeremy’s Porsche won the all-important drag race but Richard’s Chevy van won the whole enchilada thanks to some creative accounting.
Will Smith will be the special guest in the Reasonably Priced Car in next week’s fourth episode of Series 22 due to air on February 15, 2015 in the UK and on BBC America on February 16, 2015.