Tap to unmute

3 Times The Stig was Brilliant (and Bonkers) | Top Gear Classic

Share
Embed
  • Published on Apr 18, 2026

Comments •

  • @AssumedDevine
    @AssumedDevine 3 months ago +884

    You know the clip is old when they reference ferrari winning in F1

    • @bmstylee
      @bmstylee 3 months ago +31

      Well. It could be as new as 2007. But I see your point. Ferrari has gone so far off plan since Michael, Ross, and Jean left. That was a special team.

    • @salt-emoji
      @salt-emoji 3 months ago +10

      ​@bmstyleegot new for you old boy, people born in '07 are driving this year

    • @Ehaeka
      @Ehaeka 3 months ago +51

      ​@bmstylee"As new as"?? Homeboy that's almost 2 decades ago

    • @bmstylee
      @bmstylee 3 months ago +14

      ​@EhaekaI was trying to look on the bright side.

    • @I_am_looking_for_GF
      @I_am_looking_for_GF 3 months ago

      ​​@bmstylee2.4 billion people have been born and never seen ferrari win f1 XD

  • @double_process
    @double_process 3 months ago +533

    10:36 stig’s card saying “bank of money” on is a very underrated bit

    • @Tomm9y
      @Tomm9y 3 months ago +15

      and the 'Sort Code' 01-45-77 is BSB number 014577 belongs to the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ Bank) branch located in Earlville, Queensland. Nice detail. I don't know about the rest.

    • @Red_Lanterns_Rage
      @Red_Lanterns_Rage 3 months ago +5

      it beats the Bank of Nikolai....

    • @cheegan
      @cheegan Month ago

      ​@Tomm9ywhats the significance of it being from Australia and NZ?

    • @dariusdareme
      @dariusdareme Month ago +2

      never noticed that.
      Wilman strikes again.

    • @vintagevinylvets1187
      @vintagevinylvets1187 22 days ago +1

      Oh yes, 100#! LOL!😂

  • @barrelandbridge
    @barrelandbridge 3 months ago +1294

    "You need a team of 16 highly trained Engineers just to keep it running..." That holds true for normal, road going, Renaults too.

    • @automation7295
      @automation7295 3 months ago +2

      No you don't. I swear that people during the 2020's just road rage and scold people who own cars they don't like.

    • @barrelandbridge
      @barrelandbridge 3 months ago +32

      ​​@automation7295Relax, skip. It's only a joke. I swear people in the 2020s just scold and rage at people who make jokes they don't like.

    • @Salidin111
      @Salidin111 3 months ago +4

      @barrelandbridge Or more like anyone who drives a Renault (or nissan while we're here) replaces it before its drivetrain warranty expires.

    • @ghostinthemachine76
      @ghostinthemachine76 3 months ago +55

      The only thing that doesn’t go wrong on a Renault is the warning light display.

    • @mrthingy9072
      @mrthingy9072 3 months ago +10

      Same with Fiat. "Fix it Again, Tony!"

  • @youngwang97
    @youngwang97 3 months ago +515

    I don't know why the race against the Aussies is featured here. James May was the one driving

    • @MarceloBenjamin
      @MarceloBenjamin 3 months ago +34

      Got me confused as well. It was clearly Captain Slow.

    • @clippybike
      @clippybike 2 months ago +10

      @MarceloBenjamin Captain slow and steady wins the race is the full name.

    • @LordStarbeard
      @LordStarbeard 2 months ago +9

      Yeah, you're right, that's not The Stig, that's The Stigs' James May cousin!

  • @glxywlf
    @glxywlf 3 months ago +270

    20:50 Stig almost broke character 😂

    • @norm4966
      @norm4966 3 months ago +12

      Good catch I miss that.

    • @clickthisforawsomnes
      @clickthisforawsomnes 2 months ago

      the stay cool from hammond was some great quick thinking improv. goes to show why they were the best. small things like that where its done so well we dont even know its being done in the first place

    • @Saucememes
      @Saucememes 2 months ago +10

      You mean James

    • @Renzonio
      @Renzonio Month ago +3

      Pumped with adranaline from a insane race xD

    • @carlmadlope1177
      @carlmadlope1177 Month ago +3

      That was James mate

  • @kineuhansen8629
    @kineuhansen8629 3 months ago +446

    the sound man the sound i miss this era of f1 cars

    • @romelnegut2005
      @romelnegut2005 3 months ago +12

      Beautiful cars as well.

    • @kineuhansen8629
      @kineuhansen8629 3 months ago +2

      @romelnegut2005 agree

    • @Coll-k3y
      @Coll-k3y 3 months ago +1

      Indeed man

    • @erikabimbo7555
      @erikabimbo7555 3 months ago +5

      I have not watched F1 in years. At least 10.

    • @reliantncc1864
      @reliantncc1864 3 months ago +3

      You mean when they were allowed to make them good, instead of being limited by a bunch of arbitrary rules?

  • @jamdoodles
    @jamdoodles 3 months ago +283

    Trying to build a Caterham with Jeremy Clarkson would’ve made any normal person lose his marbles, for someone as detail oriented as James it must’ve been a nightmare

    • @bmstylee
      @bmstylee 3 months ago +15

      Yeah he would. He would absolutely drive my OCD mad. In my garage gym when I load plates on the bar the first plate is always letters facing in. Like at a powerlifting competition. After that letters the letters face out. I have a lifting partner who will intentionally do the opposite just to annoy me.

    • @MarkoVukovic0
      @MarkoVukovic0 3 months ago

      Lol, can you imagine how boring it would have been without the big, clumsy idiot?

    • @GalaxyTabA-o7j6j
      @GalaxyTabA-o7j6j 3 months ago +12

      Oh no he lost his marbles, washers, plenty of nuts and bolts and god knows what else that day

  • @duffman-1-287
    @duffman-1-287 3 months ago +183

    I remember watching the rally scene and watching the stig flinch to take Hammond hand at the end and enjoy the excitement of that race but remembering he's the stig and has to stay in character. A rare and very small glimpse at the human in the stig!

    • @ericw399
      @ericw399 3 months ago +29

      That's James May

    • @kdpwt
      @kdpwt 3 months ago +25

      You can tell it was ben collins because james would never be happy to see hammond

  • @wonder528
    @wonder528 3 months ago +252

    11:01 “Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, bored, boring, boring, dull, tedious, annoying, backache, armache, cramp, miserable, hate, James, hate, James……..”🤣🤣🤣

    • @krisnarefaagusta16
      @krisnarefaagusta16 3 months ago +2

      10:59

    • @luishill533
      @luishill533 3 months ago +9

      Just noticed in that moment you can see that they’d managed to smash the rear view mirror 🤣

    • @wonder528
      @wonder528 3 months ago +4

      @luishill533i never noticed that. Good pick-up!👍

    • @JustAGameShow
      @JustAGameShow 3 months ago +4

      I have this as my text tone. 🤣😎

    • @krisnarefaagusta16
      @krisnarefaagusta16 3 months ago

      ​@wonder528 How far from Scotland is Carlisle? ( 11:12 )

  • @daedelous7094
    @daedelous7094 3 months ago +35

    I am convinced the Build a Car Challenge was cooked up purely to test James' patience with Jeremy

  • @filmandfirearms
    @filmandfirearms 3 months ago +41

    Seeing an F1 car without the halo and hearing that V10 shriek is such a weird feeling

    • @deerlord2363
      @deerlord2363 25 days ago

      If by 'weird' you mean 'fvcking awesome' then I agree 😸👍

  • @pamlittle847
    @pamlittle847 3 months ago +69

    As trios go, these three plus the mascot “Stig” are golden ❤😊

  • @Uberdude6666
    @Uberdude6666 3 months ago +44

    Richard crying "Noo..!!" as the car is pushed over has somehow stuck with me for all these years as comedy gold

  • @adilnadaf9583
    @adilnadaf9583 3 months ago +92

    3:41 this in 2026 is just feels so accurately predicted..

    • @ScotsThinker
      @ScotsThinker 3 months ago +1

      Happy New Year :)

    • @reliantncc1864
      @reliantncc1864 3 months ago +1

      Do you drive at 180 on the A34?

    • @AssumedDevine
      @AssumedDevine 3 months ago +7

      @reliantncc1864 I'm sure you're definitely not asking because you're a cop and want to arrest this person...

    • @deshawnfant1364
      @deshawnfant1364 3 months ago

      With enough money you definitely can

    • @Trambacoulas
      @Trambacoulas 3 months ago +1

      @reliantncc1864 Yeah any midrange car can do that, why are you asking?

  • @AbbStar1989
    @AbbStar1989 3 months ago +34

    The best thing about Top Gear is that it never fails to put a smile on your face.

  • @mesuttekkaya8168
    @mesuttekkaya8168 3 months ago +38

    you didnt include the time he closed a 4 second gap in one lap against the germans

  • @x619-m2y
    @x619-m2y 3 months ago +25

    Putting the caterham seat in the wrong way 😄

  • @MrThompson88893
    @MrThompson88893 3 months ago +81

    I doubt that was actually Ben Collins in the F1 car more likely their test driver

    • @sswishbone
      @sswishbone 3 months ago +78

      it was Heikki Kovaleinnen in the Renault F1

    • @Adriaaan
      @Adriaaan 3 months ago +39

      You can tell when it’s Ben or not my the sticker on the helmet. TG Stig/Ben Collins always has the Simpson logo on the visor.

    • @andyelliott8027
      @andyelliott8027 3 months ago +22

      It was Heikki driving because Renault wanted their own guy. Ben could have driven it, he'd driven F1 cars before and raced Indy cars. He was offered a drive in the Arrows team but couldn't come up with the required sponsorship, Jos Verstappen got that drive instead.

  • @ZeroCrystal
    @ZeroCrystal 2 months ago +7

    20:17 "We've gotta beat the Stig." That's NOT the Stig. That's James. Let's be clear about that RIGHT here.

  • @Armcgeedon
    @Armcgeedon Month ago +5

    Stig knows to never talk to the cops without a lawyer. 15:18

  • @eww2175
    @eww2175 3 months ago +10

    How I miss that show.

  • @2010ditta
    @2010ditta 3 months ago +14

    Brilliant driving at the end, had me in tears. Loved it.

  • @Auroravaleslashenderboi
    @Auroravaleslashenderboi 23 days ago +3

    Stig seemed happy in the F1 car

  • @seanguy9720
    @seanguy9720 3 months ago +35

    8:46 hearing Clarkson say “jiggle it!” and Hammond responding “I’m jiggling like a bugger!” That was really funny to me

  • @stephen3164
    @stephen3164 3 months ago +6

    I liked the time The Stig wore James’ signature purple striped shirt for a similar substitution. 😅

  • @Poppy_love59
    @Poppy_love59 3 months ago +21

    Thanks for posting this and letting us time travel back to the good ol'e days!

  • @northbaseuk882
    @northbaseuk882 16 days ago +2

    2:01 Look at that *inhales helium* GRIP!

  • @Mikeb1001
    @Mikeb1001 3 months ago +3

    The sound of that F1 car is glorious!

  • @fajarastanaprima2771
    @fajarastanaprima2771 3 months ago +6

    2:38 hear it

  • @gardfieriif6961
    @gardfieriif6961 2 months ago +2

    Reminding Stig to not break character after the rally race is probably the fastest Hammond has ever reacted to anything.

  • @southeastcoastalphotography

    3:58 the comment about going as fast as an F1 car in 20 years wasn’t far with the acceleration of the electric cars.

  • @Nepururin
    @Nepururin Month ago +1

    6:02, that smile says more than a thousand words

  • @agie98
    @agie98 3 months ago +12

    I mean how can you not think this is awesome 18:46

  • @kdpwt
    @kdpwt 3 months ago +3

    I like how all jeremy had to do was drive it across the lineand he’s still oversteering it and risking the entire car

  • @garethwilkins6744
    @garethwilkins6744 3 months ago +6

    I know this stuff, this is top gear.

  • @nailhead73
    @nailhead73 3 months ago +69

    My daughters had a shirt made for me that said "I am the Stig". I woke up one morning and found Chuck Norris unconscious on my lawn and the shirt was missing.

  • @stijnvandamme76
    @stijnvandamme76 28 days ago +1

    " I know this stuff, this is Gravel"

  • @josephlewis9237
    @josephlewis9237 3 months ago +3

    Clarkson putting the seat the wrong way around made me laugh.

  • @namugriff
    @namugriff 3 months ago +3

    Love how the Stig was way up north, but then for what ever reason went back south for petrol.

  • @robertwillemsen368
    @robertwillemsen368 5 days ago

    ohh the sound........love it

  • @TheCasualSirenEnthusiast

    That V10 sounds amazing in that Renault. Oh my god that thing is a beautiful car

  • @nowjjj
    @nowjjj 9 days ago

    Such a nice sound

  • @BriceCanto-u1x
    @BriceCanto-u1x 19 days ago

    Great job, this video was very useful!

  • @cr0ft-2k
    @cr0ft-2k 3 months ago +27

    The F1 Stig was Heikki Kovalainen, a Renautl test driver, I believe. Stands to reason, driving F1 cars well is a very specialized task, even great drivers of just about anything else won't do that hot at first.

    • @deezkhajiit184
      @deezkhajiit184 3 months ago +3

      Exhibit A: That time Richard Hammond drove an F1 car. He's undoubtably a very talented driver, but even he had a ton of issues driving it. Heck, he struggled with the baby Formula car they made him drive to get acclimated.

    • @su18ku12
      @su18ku12 3 months ago +2

      ​@deezkhajiit184hammond is still a civilian. I'm sure even a Nascar driver would have problems driving an F1 car

    • @princeendymion9044
      @princeendymion9044 3 months ago +5

      @su18ku12 Ben Collins, who was the actual Stig at the time and had done F3 would've also struggled with the car. Obviously it's Renault's car and they get to decide who drives it but better to go with the test driver.

  • @FalloutJack
    @FalloutJack 3 months ago +16

    So, The Stig's card just makes me think of Batman now...
    "A Bat Credit card?! A BAT CREDIT CARD!!" 😁

  • @kristoferpersson1614

    Well done Ben!

  • @slo.bimmer
    @slo.bimmer 3 months ago

    pure cinema

  • @rossclarke10169
    @rossclarke10169 3 months ago +6

    And 20 years later the McMurtry Spéirling beat the F1 cars time.

  • @13Xerro
    @13Xerro Month ago +1

    I miss those V10 screamers.

  • @CallmeJeffy1
    @CallmeJeffy1 3 months ago +1

    The best sounding era of F1 cars, hands down.

  • @martykasa7864
    @martykasa7864 3 months ago +1

    They all look so young in this....

  • @thewrench324
    @thewrench324 3 months ago

    Golly what a treat, thanks
    Mr editor

  • @dallisb1047
    @dallisb1047 3 months ago +1

    Oh the sound of the Renault F1 car!

  • @benmonroe_the_1
    @benmonroe_the_1 3 months ago

    My word this show was fantastic!

  • @mrthingy9072
    @mrthingy9072 3 months ago +2

    I must be one of those obsessive types, every time Clarkson tries to do something with any tool I want to throttle him. It's like working in a museum with a rabid bull constantly running about the place, wrecking all the displays and screaming "POWER" the whole time. "Every single thing I do is rubbish" -- pretty much, yeah, because he refuses to read the instructions.

  • @Mc-qt4vl
    @Mc-qt4vl 3 months ago +2

    Ah the good ole days😂

  • @nomagic-t1l
    @nomagic-t1l 3 months ago +1

    Renault V10 sound absolutely brilliant. I miss those days of F1.

  • @anonymous202-f3q
    @anonymous202-f3q 16 days ago

    that rally race was probably the best race on TG. that overtake was so epic

  • @elios7623
    @elios7623 3 months ago +1

    "bank of money" is genious

  • @Annathefemboy
    @Annathefemboy 3 months ago +2

    "james" went full Group B

  • @M-s8k
    @M-s8k 3 months ago +1

    19:47 😂😂😂 Stig is crazy, but also avery good driver
    I love it😂

  • @ruanoosthuysen9138
    @ruanoosthuysen9138 3 months ago

    15 second headstart is insane

  • @phoenixmotorsport647
    @phoenixmotorsport647 3 months ago

    The sound of that Renault

  • @Mechanical_mind94
    @Mechanical_mind94 3 months ago

    Listen to that Renault scream 😍😍

  • @marcziegler9365
    @marcziegler9365 3 months ago +1

    Some say, it was Michael Schumacher driving the Renault F1 car

  • @janes-e378
    @janes-e378 3 months ago

    Oh i miss this and them😊

  • @catmus1506
    @catmus1506 3 months ago

    V10 Singing! Oh what a joy to hear.

  • @moreheff
    @moreheff 3 months ago +1

    They shold have added teh 24 Hour race at Silverstone. Stig drove the wheels off that Beamer.....

  • @201081hero
    @201081hero 3 months ago +3

    Obligatory "James! Stop filing!" comment...

  • @muhammadmusa2671
    @muhammadmusa2671 3 months ago

    Unbelievable driving in the last race simply magnificent

  • @krmusick
    @krmusick 2 months ago

    GOD I miss this show.

  • @slap_k_man1862
    @slap_k_man1862 3 months ago +4

    I just released the time the renault went around the track with the monaco steering rack might be the only time a f1 car was driven at race pace with that rack not at monaco

  • @RedShoes-X
    @RedShoes-X 3 months ago +29

    "I'll get a hammer"
    -Jeremy Clarkson

    • @canUsaythis
      @canUsaythis 3 months ago

      Ah the answer to all life's problems

    • @Hithere-ek4qt
      @Hithere-ek4qt 2 months ago +1

      If the only tool you have is a hammer,
      Everything looks like a nail

  • @Andy-s6j4h
    @Andy-s6j4h 2 months ago +1

    James in his element some ppl spend over a year building this.

  • @sanagos9350
    @sanagos9350 3 months ago +1

    3:43 😂

  • @bmstylee
    @bmstylee 3 months ago +1

    The Mild Seven llivery on the Renault is one of my favorites.

  • @xerutanthe13th
    @xerutanthe13th 3 months ago

    Proton Satria Neo R3. Wohoooooooo

  • @turhapro
    @turhapro 3 months ago

    Heikki Kovalainen, the legend!

  • @carlmadlope1177
    @carlmadlope1177 3 months ago +1

    2:42 You can understand why James May gets lost on a race track sometimes

  • @TheIllusiveManny
    @TheIllusiveManny 3 months ago +2

    God, everytime they mention the year on these old episodes, I'm transported back, wondering what else was going on in the world and in my youth😊

  • @satayathembo4541
    @satayathembo4541 3 months ago +1

    "Do you think our eyes are painted on?"

  • @bushmanPMRR
    @bushmanPMRR 3 months ago +1

    "You got a Nectar card?"

  • @Joshua-qm3um
    @Joshua-qm3um 3 months ago +3

    I miss them.

  • @kristofferrydquist8384

    7:13 a small, great, detail

  • @kelvinpell4571
    @kelvinpell4571 Month ago

    My God, it's hard to believe this was 22 years ago

  • @MellyClipSpace
    @MellyClipSpace 3 months ago +18

    15:20
    Does this car belong TO YOU, sir?
    Can I ask where you're going TO??
    Can I ask where you've come FROM??
    Is the car STOLEN, sir?

    • @bmstylee
      @bmstylee 3 months ago +8

      Possibly the most Scottish sounding thing I've heard.

    • @PantomineHorse
      @PantomineHorse 2 months ago

      @bmstylee Yes. Proper Jockinesers!

  • @ThatsRandom87
    @ThatsRandom87 3 months ago +19

    Some Say, He Sucks Moisture From Ducks

  • @azazel8035
    @azazel8035 3 months ago

    I miss that sound

  • @sirloin8745
    @sirloin8745 3 months ago +5

    No stereo to listen to Justin Hayward & ‘Forever Autumn’? 🤷‍♂️

  • @reyalPRON
    @reyalPRON 3 months ago +1

    3:48 and how right he was :) we can :) and we have :P

  • @Marketsolo
    @Marketsolo 3 months ago +1

    Back when Top Gear was epic...

  • @pamlittle847
    @pamlittle847 3 months ago +4

    Gosh, the Rozzers!!

    • @bmstylee
      @bmstylee 3 months ago

      The Scottish rozzers at that.

  • @Zanacuda
    @Zanacuda 3 months ago

    "I'm jiggling like a bugger" - Hammond

  • @newagetemplar6100
    @newagetemplar6100 3 months ago

    These 3 got me and my young son through some very rough times….
    Sunday evening was our great and only escape. Priceless time in history being around top gear. Cheers chaps ❤

  • @darryIl
    @darryIl 3 months ago

    das Stig is a maniac

  • @justinburnett7718
    @justinburnett7718 3 months ago

    17:09 oh....James.....yeah James.....lmao....

  • @Ray-pq3fp
    @Ray-pq3fp 21 day ago

    clarkson: knocks over car. Clarkson: "who did that?"

  • @zackb-wheal6771
    @zackb-wheal6771 3 months ago

    😂 Clarkson def called the popo on the stig

  • @Chasta1n42
    @Chasta1n42 Month ago

    19:46 Stames taking the Dale Earnhardt racing line

  • @Dudi4PoLFr
    @Dudi4PoLFr 3 months ago

    3:39, and it's the case, Mr Clarkson!