Jeremy Clarkson bids a final farewell to Top Gear completing his last lap of the test track
Former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson took to Twitter to mark the end of an era as he completed his final ever lap of the Top Gear test track.
Clarkson asked his followers to help him choose between a Mercedes and two Ferraris for the lap and was joined in the car by racing driver Marino Franchitti and Nick Mason, drummer of Pink Floyd.
Right. About to do my last ever lap of the Top Gear test track. What car should I use? pic.twitter.com/xbaZkEi3sE
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 13, 2015
@JeremyClarkson showing @nickmasondrums & I the way around the Top Gear track. This is our Volvo faces #serious pic.twitter.com/SMs5pkxQUD
— Marino Franchitti (@MFranchitti) July 13, 2015
After completing the lap Clarkson posted that it was a “bit sad leaving the place for the final time”.
My last ever lap of the Top Gear track is done. Bit sad leaving the place for the final time.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 13, 2015
2 good things about the last lap. It raised a load of cash for a good cause. And I did the motherfucker of all tail slides through Chicago.
— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) July 13, 2015
The controversial host was dropped from the BBC show back in March following a ‘fracas’ with one of the show’s producers. He has since been replaced by BBC Radio 2’s Chris Evans who told the new edition of Top Gear magazine he was “so very close” to assembling his production team for the show.
“There’s a lot of talk about talent at the moment,” said Evans. “Honestly, it’s not the furthest thing away from my mind, but it is quite distant compared to directors, producers, assistant producers, lighting and camera men, editors, production managers, production coordinators and runners.
“I have got to get that team, because, without the team, it doesn’t matter what presenters we get.”
He added that the role was “a bit like Doctor Who” in that there have been 34 presenters before him and that “some things will” stay the same under his leadership.
“I can’t tell you what precisely. But it would be silly to throw the baby out with the bath water,” he said.
Evans has signed a three-year deal to produce and present the BBC Two show, names including Jodie Kidd and Suzi Perry have since been linked with the show.