If you've been living under a rock on an isolated island on Pluto, then you may not have heard that the new Top Gear show has been relaunched this weekend, and with it came a few significant changes.
Not enough, some would say, but we'll live the critics to discuss the merits of the new format, and just focus on the new track's layout for now. If you're a bit disgruntled by the fact that, despite having seven presenters now, you only got to see three of them in the first episode of the series, here's your chance to get a taste of what the other Chris - the one with a more common hair color and Harris as his last name - can bring to the show.
What are we talking about? If you've seen at least one of his YouTube videos so far, then you're very much aware of what Chirs Harris is all about. Frankly, he's the closest we'll ever get to a new Clarkson, with the difference that Chris can actually explain how a turbocharger works, and not blame it on magic. Other than that, it really is hard to tell which one of them would win in a tire-shredding contest.
But forgive us for buying into these constant comparisons between the new show and the old one - it's a bad habit we don't condone and, hopefully, we'll quickly get rid of. Now, back to the new track that the show's guests will have to drive through, and Chris Harris is ready to set off in the new reasonable priced car.
Well, actually there's nothing reasonable about a Rallycross MINI, but once you get to see what they've done to the circuit, you'll easily understand why a Vauxhall Astra just couldn't cut in anymore. Yup, the track now includes two off-road sections, a jump, and a water splash - it's like a theme park attraction ride, only with real cars. Doesn't it just make you regret you're not a star that could one day make it into the show?
The moment we saw Chris emerge from that first gravel incursion and into Hammerhead, we thought: "won't the tires be all muddy from the dirt/water combination?" Well, apparently that was the whole idea, and Harris is quick to demonstrate with a little use of the handbrake. He does that once again in a hairpin, and you will immediately start to regret you can't see the action from the outside. Well, just watch the show, and your wish will be granted.
What are we talking about? If you've seen at least one of his YouTube videos so far, then you're very much aware of what Chirs Harris is all about. Frankly, he's the closest we'll ever get to a new Clarkson, with the difference that Chris can actually explain how a turbocharger works, and not blame it on magic. Other than that, it really is hard to tell which one of them would win in a tire-shredding contest.
But forgive us for buying into these constant comparisons between the new show and the old one - it's a bad habit we don't condone and, hopefully, we'll quickly get rid of. Now, back to the new track that the show's guests will have to drive through, and Chris Harris is ready to set off in the new reasonable priced car.
Well, actually there's nothing reasonable about a Rallycross MINI, but once you get to see what they've done to the circuit, you'll easily understand why a Vauxhall Astra just couldn't cut in anymore. Yup, the track now includes two off-road sections, a jump, and a water splash - it's like a theme park attraction ride, only with real cars. Doesn't it just make you regret you're not a star that could one day make it into the show?
The moment we saw Chris emerge from that first gravel incursion and into Hammerhead, we thought: "won't the tires be all muddy from the dirt/water combination?" Well, apparently that was the whole idea, and Harris is quick to demonstrate with a little use of the handbrake. He does that once again in a hairpin, and you will immediately start to regret you can't see the action from the outside. Well, just watch the show, and your wish will be granted.