No slouches, these Top Gear US presenters. While our lot use the downtime between series to do things like race model trains in sleepy Devon villages, Tanner Foust is busily filling in his spare time competing in various Rallycross events. And doing rather well.
Last week he overcame a dislocated shoulder to take first place in round two of the Global Rallycross series in Washington, and this Bank Holiday he popped over to our neck of the woods – Lydden Hill – for the opening round of the European Rallycross series.
Unfortunately, his rather mental 600bhp Ford Fiesta (quicker 0-60 than a Grand Prix car) struggled on the second day, and he had to settle for eighth. Still, we’d hazard a guess that’s better than we’d have done.
Rowan Horncastle braved the heat to grab a quick chat with our man to see how filming is going for Top Gear US’ second series (it’s out later this year on the History Channel).
So are you enjoying Top Gear US so far?
Top Gear US was a lot of fun. My highlights had to be Alaska looking for America’s best pick-up truck, as I thought at some points we were close to dying. But all the challenges are incredible on Top Gear and what you see is real. I also loved racing the parachutists in the Ford F150 Raptor, and when do you get to race a skier down a mountain in a car, apart from on Top Gear?
Pleased with the reaction to it all?
It is hard as there have been Top Gear spin-offs in other countries and people think you are always trying to emulate the UK show. There was a sense of pressure initially because the guys over here do it so well. Jeremy, Hammond and May are awesome; they have been doing it a long time and have a really good dynamic. But the format of Top Gear has evolved over time and works really well all around the world. Although the format is the same as the UK show, the three of us on Top Gear USA are different. We put our own spin on Top Gear to make sure it works in our culture. As the season went on we really gelled and got a lot better at doing it.
And what do you think of our three presenters in the UK?
In one word? Jeremy: extreme. James: not extreme. Hammond: wicked. He is the short one so I think we have something in common – but he is shorter than me.
The second series is coming later this year, right?
Series two? It’s crazy. I can’t tell you too much but I can say that the directors and producers are trying their best to kill three presenters in cars while all sniggering behind the cameras. As for challenges – I can’t tell you anything. But we have been in a swamp.
Oh, and if you haven’t encountered Rallycross before, this is it:
(Thanks to Rowan from Motormorph.com for the pictures and his time this weekend)
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
James Chapman commented on this article
Tuesday November 1, 2011 at 2:10 pm
Having watched Uk TG for the past 12 years I can say that the guys in the US have done a good job, however they will never be as good as Jeremy, richard and james. I love top gear and I always will.
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Megatrends commented on this article
Saturday January 7, 2012 at 3:27 am
Tanner is one of the best drivers today out there. He can out drift and out drive anyone like Clarkson. He is so fun to watch on Top Gear USA.
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USBorderPatrolx commented on this article
Thursday January 26, 2012 at 2:31 pm
Why is everyone comparing the two? The Uk is the original and yes they have the best dynamics. Tanner is a professional and was before the show so why would you start saying things about how he can out drift or race Clarkson. Last time I checked he, May or Hammond have never made a claim to be the baddest or the best. Top Gear is about one thing…….cars, where it be talking about them or testing them. If you want to see people race or compete then watch a race. I like the UK one better but that doesnt take anything away from us americans. they have had 17 seasons and we have had one….wheres the comparison? Why not start crapping on the other spin offs also. Were not the first.
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kaizer commented on this article
Thursday February 2, 2012 at 10:52 pm
i agree with USBorderPatrol, you cant compare the two, i like both of them but i still prefer the UK version, just coz its mad and stupid and loots of fun, in the US version, its a tinny bit a bit too serious and if i wanted that then i would jus go and watch fifth gear
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??????? commented on this article
Friday February 3, 2012 at 10:27 am
Ok…
So when when is Top Gear USA back on…
seeing how BBC now showing doctor who as off tonight!
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RedAngel commented on this article
Friday February 3, 2012 at 8:28 pm
yep BBC c’mon… where are TG USA series 2 episodes 7 & 8….
You can’t compare the 2 shows. TGUK is the show you grew up with – like the family dog, after many years now “trained”, reliable, comfortable and snoring in front of the fire, like your old dad in his armchair (only not when TG is on obviously).
However i wanna play with the puppy, which has been banished to the kitchen for chewing on something it shouldn’t, is all wagging tail, “who me? i didn’t do anything” eyes and tongue out enthusiasm. Awesome TG USA keep it up!
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Anonymous commented on this article
Saturday February 4, 2012 at 7:46 pm
JUST UK TOP GEAR
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warm up the jaaggghh commented on this article
Tuesday February 7, 2012 at 6:23 pm
cmon now guys tg us and aus are not that bad let them sort it out and it will be fine ,. what i really want to see is us vs uk , we had uk vs germany (other car show but still) and uk vs aus so now its time for uk vs us amiright?
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One Lap Callout commented on this article
Tuesday February 28, 2012 at 8:05 pm
A group of us running on One Lap of America have gathered to call out the US team to run and survive the event. Those guys need more challenges like surviving 8 days racing and traveling across the country in a car they actually prepped.
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Ryo commented on this article
Monday March 12, 2012 at 7:47 pm
I thought Top Gear USA was a good show. Yeah, in many ways it wasn’t as good as Top Gear UK but some of the actual challenges that they did were really good. The Toughest truck in particular. However, I feel it was let down big time by the horribly tacky ‘banter wars’ that the presenters had. Like when they awkwardly stand there trying to make puns and comebacks and pretending to think when really it’s so obviously scripted. Top Gear UK is funny because it’s generally pretty clever humour. The US version seemed a little immature at times
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masoud commented on this article
Sunday April 8, 2012 at 7:47 am
if there would be a camparison, absolutely the UKTG will win. but there aint much i can blame on US topgear they are not bad at all
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