That Time Ken Block Auditioned for Top Gear and It Almost Ended Badly

It all depends on what BBC is expecting from this new, enlarged team. Is it willing to give it time and hope that the cast will relax, start to gel and take the show into the right direction? Or does it expect immediate success, in which case it might push for more big-name appearances?

Ken Block's repertoire is very limited if we're honest, but that doesn't mean he's not the type who can play a crowd. Yes, watching cars drift can get boring at one point, but that point is so far away in time that not even our grandkids need to worry about it. And with the kind of vehicles and skills he's got, there's no better person in the world to turn perfectly good tires into clouds of smoke without the help of gasoline and a lighter.

This clip released by Top Gear today shows the time Ken Block auditioned for a job as Top Gear presenter last year, when the team wasn't yet decided. The man sent in his video reel showing the usual donuts, drifts, handbrake turns and whatnot, and then came in personally for a chat with Chris Evans.

The ginger host was understandably excited to have him on board, but not all members of the team shared his view. Probably sensing the smell of competition, The Stig came out of the self-induced coma he uses to get some rest to express his veto. As usual, he did it without the help of words, which only made it even spookier.

All casting jokes aside, Top Gear could really benefit from the endorsement of people like Ken Block who have such great credentials among car fans. It still wouldn't make Chris Evans shout any less or feel like he genuinely loves cars, but it would be a plus. Unfortunately, we'll probably be left with just this short gag.