Reports claim the accident, which occurred Saturday around noon, is said to have involved a BMW 3-Series, a Volvo V40, and a Nissan Almera, as well as Hammond's Morgan. BBC spokespeople are quoted only as saying the presenter had been involved in a minor collision and was unharmed. Phew! (Hat tip to Mike!) [Yahoo! UK]

Belfast has just completed construction on a new sewer system, meaning Clarkson, the Hamster and May won't have to splash through human waste in the name of infotainment. While the original 1969 film was set in Turin, Michael Cain was actually driving through Coventry's waste disposal system.

Filming is expected to take place "in the coming weeks" meaning we should see the race this season. No word on which one of the trio had the great idea. [via BBC]

And of course, no Top Gear segment would be complete without a smashing hot lap by the mysterious Stig, but how fast is Lambo's newest super car? Can the 670 HP rip-snorting V12, all-wheel-drive and carbon-ceramic brake-equipped LP670-4 SV finally rise above mere super cars and enter the hyper car fray?

[via FinalGear]

According to Drive.com.au, Ferrari's CEO admitted the company reached out to Top Gear to get them to "stoppa da crap" when it comes to the next show.

Speaking at the Geneva motor show, Ferrari CEO Amedeo Felisa said it was important to protect the brand and, as a consequence, the company had spoken to the Top Gear Live show's organisers from the BBC.

A spokesman for Ferrari said Top Gear Live had admitted to using fake Ferraris.

"We asked them to change it … for the Hong Kong [Top Gear Live] show (the last stop on the world tour)," said the spokesman. "We said ‘please use real Ferraris'."

The organizers for Top Gear Live said they'd be using drift cars, not fakes, for the Hong Kong show, thus removing the problem. Felisa was later heard saying "Nut up, this is Top Gear, not Top Pussy."

[Drive.com.au]

Clarkson and his midget mate Richard Hammond were down under for Top Gear Live, which is sort of like Muppets On Ice, but with cars. We've already heard Top Gear USA was canceled, but it's interesting to hear the less-PC version of events.

We do however think Clarkson is wrong on one key point: it's not Americans who "just don't get it, really" it's NBC. [via CarsGuide]

Minimum Expectations For Top Gear UK Season 12, Based On The Teaser

• Veritas RS III
• Stig in a Bugatti Veyron
• Lamborghini Gallardo
• Speedboat driving
• Double decker bus racing
• Semi truck foolishness
• Pagoni Zonda
• Corvette ZR1
• Cadillac CTS-V
• Dodge Challenger SRT8
• Reno shenanigans
• Mercedes Benz C63 AMG
• Lexus IS-F
• Bathroom challenge, apparently

By the end of the year there will be a Clarksonov, Hammondchenko and Mayovski roaming the frozen steppes of Russia. Probably in Ladas.

Yes, there’s going to be a Top Gear Russia. Made in Russia for the Russians. A bit like the Aussie TG, but with more back-to-front letters and fewer boomerangs.

Everything’s a bit hush-hush at the moment, but we know that it’s going to run for 15 episodes initially, around the end of this year. The Russian Top Gear magazine has been doing well over there since its launch in 2004, so hopefully the locals will be familiar with TG’s ‘ambitious but rubbish’ philosophy.

First up, though, we’ve got to find the local presenters. Rumours that Clarkson, May and Hammond will be making a guest appearance clad in bearskin hats remain unconfirmed.

We can’t imagine there’ll be any shortage of candidates for the arduous job of thrashing supercars around the beautiful Russian outback. Or whatever the Russians call the outback.

There’s no word on what studio or test track they’ll be using yet, but we have glorious visions of a giant Russian Clarkson firing up a Murcielago in a decommissioned nuclear silo, surrounded by hoards of TG faithful wrapped up in layers of wintery clothes.

And bearskin hats. It’s all about the bearskin hats.

(Hat tip to Andreja!) [via Top Gear]

[View the entire episode at FinalGear.com]

Obviously Clarkson grabbed the ZR1, Hammond got the keys to the CTS-V, and of course James May gets the outgunned Challenger SRT8. Pending the results of the show, we're assuming the ZR1 and CTS-V will be getting their just due on the world stage, while May will probably end up with the Challenger doing donuts and catching on fire. We have no idea when this episode will be hitting the airwaves, but when we find out it'll be pinned to our calenders. We eagerly await the metaphoric gymnastics Clarkson will be performing on the ZR1. Wonder how the Top Gear America guys feel about the British crew stealing their product thunder? (Hat tip to Paul!) [FinalGear]

"The only reason I haven't signed my contract yet is because it has not yet been finalized. The current one doesn't expire until the end of July. I'm sure a new one will be sorted out soon. I'm not stomping around about Jeremy's contract with BBC Worldwide. Quite frankly, I couldn't give a **** about it."

The paper's unnamed sources claim

"the presenters of the hit BBC Two series had not yet signed their new contracts even though their current agreements expire at the end of the month...there has been "a meltdown" in negotiations and that the pair "turned down flat" the first offer from the BBC. There has been a lot of pulling out of hair, a Mexican stand-off. For the first time it is possible that one or both might leave."

Photo Credit: Getty Images via BBC

Top Gear Ground Gear Force: Part One

Top Gear Ground Gear Force: Part Two

Top Gear Ground Gear Force: Part Three

If you want to donate to Sport Relief, here's the link.

This is a common problem with people who undergo serious trauma to the head, as parts of the brain that stored memories or controlled certain functions are damaged, causing the victim to have to relearn certain activities (imagine having to relearn to park without your full spatial ability, for example). But Hammond plans to continue filming and enjoys the prodding from his cohosts:

"But we're all best friends and we love each other dearly. Don't tell Clarkson I said that - he'll punch me next time he sees me."

"The chassis is bent, the historic afterburning Rolls-Royce Orpheus turbojet engine might run again (there is a comprehensive spare parts inventory to go with the car, including a new jetpipe), and just about every component on the car is damaged in some way. The rollcage was removed by someone post-crash and has not been returned to us. But this is the only key component which is absent from the car, everything else is there exactly as it was last used."

Up for auction with NO RESERVE is 'Vampire', the jet dragster seen on the BBC Top Gear programme and which holds the Official British Land Speed record at an average, each-way speed of 301mph.

The cars owner helped build the vehicle originally and had lovingly cared for it and driven it since 1981: it is one of three land speed cars he operated. Shortly after the car was wrecked he suffered a near-fatal heart failure and now needs to raise whatever funds he can by selling everything off.

Top Gear Stoke [AllAfrica]

Related:
Be a Fat Stig, American Pigs [Internal]

The three 'teers arm their muskets and take aim at the music industry in this charity episode of Top Gear only it's about music, not cars. Sort of like a video issue of Gearhead, only with middle-aged British chaps instead of middle-aged punkers. [Thanks to the legendary ThnderBlt for the tip.]

Related:
Classic Top Gear: Stay On Target! The Lotus Exige vs. Apache Attack Helicopter [Internal]

Most people start watching Top Gear because of Clarkson's bloviation. Which is fine, as he is very good at it. But then the episodes roll by and you notice that while it's a great trick, Jezzo has but one. So then you develop a man-crush on the Hamster and fantasize about a little bromance with him and his Morgan. However, Richard is something of a spaz. And he whitens his teeth. Enter Captain Slow. Davey and I long ago determined that James May was by far the best part of the show. He's the thinking pistonhead's choice. Spinelli is even going for the hair, as Mr. May is without question the man. Above is the pudding proof. – Jonny Lieberman

Question of the Day: Who Has the Hotter Hair?; James May on Jalopnik {Internal]

One could say that the Jalopnik Fantasy Garage is a slightly-more-democratic, in-depth version of Top Gear's venerable Cool Wall. But now the TG folks have blown that wide-open with their digital rendition of one of the show's most beloved features. Now you, too can widdle away the hours chewing the scenery like a rabid Hamster. Procrastination through joy! – Davey G. Johnson

Cool Wall [Top Gear via Dubspeed]

Related:
James May Wants You To Colour This Z4 Coupe! [Internal]

We're glad the Stig's able to talk, because now we're completely speechless. We've seriously got nothing more to say other than to tell you that need to keep watching until it hits about 45 seconds left in the clip of an interview of two of Top Gear's hosts...and a human some say used to be called a "thing." We're going to go and cry now and lament the damn hot Dutch woman who got the Stig (who sounds remarkably like Damon Hill) to speak and killed our dream that he's a space cyborg. [Hat tip to Cubeguyt!] – Ray Wert

[via FinalGear]

Related:
Stig Cracks Up a Lambo?; The Stig in Black Speaks! Perry McCarthy on Crash.net [internal]

Kasey Kagawa is pissed. The Hamster took out a GT500 for review, tossed it on a chassis dyno and came back with 447 horsepower instead of the 500 claimed by Ford. However, it seems from the show as if this was rear-wheel horsepower, uncompensated for the drivetrain's parasitic loss, while Ford rates the motor at the crankshaft. Either way, the methodology wasn't remotely qualified. Kasey, who is possibly the biggest Top Gear junkie we know, isn't taking this lying down. He's refusing to pirate the show until TG apologizes. We'll probably watch anyway while swallowing salt grains, but it does seem that the show's leaning farther and farther toward entertainment these days, whereas before, it pretty much struck a perfect balance between seriousness, epic hoonage and irreverance. Thoughts, children? – Davey G. Johnson

A Sad State of Affairs: Top Gear Lies About GT500 HP Rating [Dubspeed]

Related:
Beware the Redy2: 615 Horses Attack a Mustang's Rear Wheels!!! [Internal]

Now that BBC Worldwide's signed a deal to allow certain Top Gear clips from the Beeb's vaults see computer screens worldwide via YouTube, we've been treated to all sorts of fun clips from the past. Like this little run-in Richard Hammond had with a Nissan Celery Sunny and a jet car. No, not that jet car. Also, it's a shame we can't embed the content, but the BBC only wants us to watch them on the YouTube page. You know, for the true British experience. – Ray Wert

Top Gear: Jet Car - Nissan [YouTube]

Related:
Danger at 288 mph: Richard Hammond Crash Pics Released; Update! Sky News Reports Top Gear's Richard Hammond Driving Vampire Jet Car At 280 Mph At Time Of Accident [internal]

First we told you that Clarkson was dead, then that Hamster would never drive or think again because of his severe brain injuries, and finally that BBC would cancel Top Gear. So now, based on only the worst possible source (Jeremy himself), we are telling you that Captain Slow may in fact be a homosexual. And married. Watch amongst yourselves. – Jonny Lieberman

Related:
Future Classic Top Gear: Captain Slow Goes 407.4 Kilometers Per Hour! [Internal]

It just aired on the BBC, and now we've got it right here for you. The "it" we speak of is exclusive video of Richard Hammond's death-defying 288 mph jet car crash. And no, it's not a hamster in a ball hitting a wall — although we did think that was funny. – Ray Wert

UPDATE: We've got the full 12 minute segment, which is both scary and hilarious, after the jump!

Related:
The Hamster's Not Dead Yet: Top Gear Is Back! [internal]

We're still in the middle of downloading acquiring our very own copy of today's episode of the world's bestest driving show, Top Gear. We'll have a report up as soon as we've had the chance to get the episode on our grubby little hard drive and seen/heard/experienced it in all of it's brilliance. We're also being told Hammond looked ravishing or something like that (we think anyone'd look good if they survived a 288 mph crash, but that may be just us) so we may even have a Hamster gallery up with the recap. – Ray Wert

Related:
All of our Top Gear coverage [internal]

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2CV Nautiques!; More 2CVentertainment [Internal]