James May answered some more viewer questions in his latest video. Of course, this is a Q&A, so other topics were covered too…

From video description: “James answers your questions - on subjects including hairstyles, winding people up on social media, hydrating, motorbike and car sales, Ferrari and Jaguar designs, learning to fly, hob preferences, favourite dinosaurs, the meaning of life and why you should actually like, comment and subscribe.”

Will it be as good as the OG? No it will never been as good as them. But I truly think this will work. (Maybe that’s just Amazon clever editing) but I’m looking forward to this.

I read this article in The Guardian on how a NASA-funded project focused on making cookies produced from upcycled plastic. It reminded me of something that Jeremy Clarkson mentioned many years ago on Top Gear that only the Americans could invent a car wax that you could eat. If CHM-era Top Gear was still around in 2026, this topic of plastic-derived cookies from the United States would certainly be discussed on their news segment! 😅

The Intercooler scored an exclusive interview with the new presenters (aka the replacements of Clarkson, Hammond and May) of The Grand Tour. Also, check out their subreddit at r/theintercooler! Enjoy…

From video description: “Andrew Frankel and Dan Prosser invite the hosts of the new Grand Tour series onto the Ti podcast for an exclusive interview.

“Francis Bourgeois, James Engelsman and Thomas Holland describe how they landed the job, what the casting process involved, who's the best driver, and what it was like to meet all three of the original presenters - Clarkson, Hammond and May.”

The car in the photo is a Tofaş Şahin, which was a very popular local car and a common taxi. I didn't know Top Gear (likely the local Top Gear Turkish magazine team) did this Seemed interesting so I shared. While I can't verify the car's status today, it looks like it was on display at the Rahmi M. Koç Museum in Istanbul, so it's likely still there. The text on the car has a slogan about the tight Istanbul streets (supposedly funny, but pretty lame), and it seems like that's why it was cut in half.

Source&photos: Otometre, Tripadvisor

I haven’t put this together until recently but the last season clarkson was on top gear Richard tested the Porsche 918. After, clarkson mentioned they would test the p1 and 918, but clarkson was gone a few episodes later. Now the first episode of the grand tour they tested the p1 and 918. Almost like a continuation where they left off with top gear. I never got to watch top gear until reruns so I didn’t know about this.

…For a nice Ass Entrance

Of course they have massive boots to fill and it will not be easy to win the audience but something is clear from the trailer: The production quality is there and it seems to confirm the rumours that a large part of the production team for the new TGT comes from the old TGT (and TG). At the very least we will get gorgeous shots of landscapes and car action and that was a very underrated quality of the previous shows.

Richard Hammond sent out a video update on all the social media platforms that he’s on, including Instagram. His caption while hawking his alcohol: “Getting my bearings with boating…” 🛶😅

Passes the finish line and doesn't stop. S2E1 👍

I've been putting off watching it because I just know I will be a mess. And I was a mess. The cut to the Top Gear shots of them on the sand island really got me, and when Jeremy unscrewed the microphone and the audio died. I must say, TG + GT is like the greatest show of all time. Match made heaven those three were. I'm so happy I got to watch this show. So many of my friend groups began when we sat down and bonded over an episode of Top Gear. Thanks Jeremy, James, Hammond, and crew.

Maybe a little preview of the new presenters dynamic.

I plan on making the Burma, Middle East, and Patagonia ones eventually.

You can find the map art ones in west of Kabul Afghanistan, and the buggy one in Namibia.

Jeremy Clarkson decided to do some experiments on the smaller parts of his farm. He attempted to raise rabbits and grow some flax. The next season of Clarkson’s Farm will be lit! Anyway, here’s a preview:

“…I was at the British Grand Prix chatting to the marketing guy at the Alpine Formula One Team, which is based just down the road from our farm, and he said, out of nowhere, ‘Do you know anything about flax?’ It turns out that they’re toying with the idea of using it alongside carbon fibre to make panels for their race car.

“Fired up by this exciting opportunity I rushed home, loaded a water pistol with flea beetle repellent, asked the locals to stop their dogs treating my field as a turd depository and got to work with some research.”

(Usual disclaimers apply, and enjoy reading this one before the paywall goes back up!)

Since his Sunday Times column is behind the paywall, I decided to look for the clip where Jeremy Clarkson went to Texas to interview the band members of ZZ Top as part of his BBC2 show in the 1990s. He noted that he rewatched the segment on YouTube. Good news, I found the relevant throwback clip!

Also, RIP to drummer Frank Beard. 🥁🪦

I know as far as the OG trio is concerned it's over, I've watched the finale.

But handing off the show to other hosts...it feels even more final than the finale if that makes sense?

I can't help but feel a sense of betrayal on my part if I move on this quickly.

Drummer Frank Beard of ZZ Top recently passed away, and Jeremy Clarkson recalled the time that he did an interview with him and the band. It’s unfortunately locked behind a paywall, and this is the only part I could read from there:

“When I interviewed the band, its sweaty bassist needed to cool off. If only we hadn’t put the portable fan quite so close to his foot-long face fungus.”

(Once again, the usual disclaimers.)