Ben Collins may have jumped on the Fifth Gear boat, but the Top Gear threesome of James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond don't seem to have noticed as they prepare to embark on their 2010 Prototype Tour commencing in London on November 4th. And what better way to market the start of this grand tour then by having May and Clarkson (Hammond was not in attendance) take on a Boeing 747 from the Top Gear track at Dunsfold Park, Surrey.
The Top Gear->ke1860 Live ‘Prototype’ World Tour promises to be the "most exciting, ambitious and complex automotive stage show ever," and considering the source, we tend to believe it! About 300,000 fans across seven cities around the world will take part in the tour as modified and crazy vehicles take the stage. Some of the absurd models include the first ever transparent car, completely transformed Porsches->ke1, and a battle between the “Godzilla” Nissan GT-R->ke1592 and a helicopter. And the battle doesn't take place outside.
“Car stunt shows used to involve standing in rain soaked concrete car parks watching men in branded hats driving round in circles,” said Clarkson. “But Top Gear Live continues to prove that proper theatre with cars is possible and yet again, we’ve pushed the boundaries of car theatre for this ‘Prototype Tour’. It’s ambitious, but for once, it isn’t complete rubbish.”
The tour will start at the MPH The Prestige and Performance Motor Show at Earls Court, London from November 4th-7th. This should be a step up for the MPH show which was a hoot to begin with.
Hit the jump for the press release including locations and dates for the rest of the Prototype Tour.
Press Release
Jeremy Clarkson and James May commandeered a Boeing 747 yesterday to launch the Top Gear Live ‘Prototype’ World Tour from the Top Gear track at Dunsfold Park, Surrey.
Announcing details of the all-new live experience, the duo promised audiences that they would be treated to the most exciting, ambitious and complex automotive stage show ever.
Playing to over 300,000 spectators across seven cities around the world, the brand-new celebration of automotive utopia launches in London on 4th November at the MPH Prestige & Performance Motor Show powered by Shell V-Power.
The intrepid presenters together with the Top Gear Live crew will then take in Birmingham, Dublin, Brisbane, Melbourne, Johannesburg and eventually Oslo in a breathless five months of touring.
One notable absentee from proceedings was co-presenter, Richard Hammond.
“He thought we said Dublin when we actually said Dunsfold,” explained Clarkson as he spoke of his excitement about the forthcoming ‘Prototype Tour’.
“Car stunt shows used to involve standing in rain soaked concrete car parks watching men in branded hats driving round in circles,” said Clarkson. “But Top Gear Live continues to prove that proper theatre with cars is possible and yet again, we’ve pushed the boundaries of car theatre for this ‘Prototype Tour’. It’s ambitious, but for once, it isn’t complete rubbish.”
Top Gear Live will feature some of the world’s most expensive, powerful and absurdly modified cars. Stars of the show will include the first ever transparent car, Porsches transformed beyond all recognition and a custom made “Godzilla” Nissan GT-R going head-to-head with a police helicopter. Indoors.
By the time the ‘Prototype Tour’ ends in March 2011, the tireless Top Gear Live team will have performed various versions of their arena spectacular to more than 1 million fans since their launch.
Clarkson, Hammond and May will add their usual dose of juvenile bickering to proceedings on the UK leg in London (November 4th-7th) and then the Birmingham NEC (November 11th-14th), after which the tour takes off to entertain the rest of the world.
Planned destinations include:
- London, Earls Court 4-7th Nov 2010
- Birmingham, NEC 11-14th Nov 2010
- Dublin, CityWest Event Centre, 26-28th Nov 2010
- Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre, 3 – 6 Mar 2011
- Melbourne, Melbourne Showgrounds, 11-14 Mar 2011
- Jo’burg, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit, 17-20 Mar 2011
- Oslo, venue tbc, 24-27 Mar 2011