Top Gear - Season 8

First aired: 5/7/2006 8 episodes

The eighth series of Top Gear began on 7 May and concluded on 30 July 2006. The series featured eight episodes. Over 150 complaints were received regarding actions carried out in the sixth episode, ultimately resulting in a caravan being burnt. Clarkson later proclaimed that it was not an 'accident' as first implied, but a publicity stunt to show everyone how much Top Gear hate caravans.

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Episodes

1. Episode 1

Aired: 5/7/2006

Jeremy tests the Koenigsegg CCX and Stig is doing his best to kill himself in it. James drives the new Honda Civic and Richard is relegated to driving a most embarrassing convertible: the Nissan micra C+C. The Renault Espace is turned into the world's first convertible people carrier by having its roof sawn off.

2. Episode 2

Aired: 5/14/2006

The Jaguar XK is driven by Jeremy through the spectacular scenery of the Yorkshire Dales. He also drove the new Corvette Z06. Richard was in Iceland for a race against a jet-powered kayak - he drove the Tomcat 4x4. In Brighton, Jeremy, James and Richard took over a live drivetime radio programme on BBC Southern Counties Radio and were rubbish at it. Gordon Ramsay is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

3. Episode 3

Aired: 5/21/2006

Jeremy, James and Richard each design their own amphibious vehicle and test it on a Stafforshire reservoir. Jeremy has a Toyota Hilux, James a Triumph Herald with a sail and Richard has a Volkswagen camper van painted to resemble a canal boat. The new Lotus Exige S is given the freedom of the Top Gear track and Philip Glenister is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

4. Episode 4

Aired: 5/28/2006

The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S is tested in Cyprus against of all things, a Red Devil - a member of the R.A.F.'s freefall parachute display team. Jeremy gives the Mercedes S Class a make-over. The new S Class is tested, the BMW Z4M shows what it can do on the Top Gear track as does the Koenigsegg CCX. Ewan McGregor is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

5. Episode 5

Aired: 6/4/2006

The Toyota Aygo takes on the VW Fox on the football pitch. Jeremy takes the new Citroën C6 racing at Towcester and the Prodrive P2 supercar gets a thrash around the track. Captain Slow is given a lesson in fast driving by Sir Jackie Stewart. Sir Michael Gambon is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

6. Episode 6

Aired: 7/16/2006

The lads take a caravanning holiday in Dorset. The Stig see how fast you can drive an F1 car indoors. The Mazda 6 MPS, Mondeo ST220 and the Vauxhall Vectra VXR are tested. Brian Cox is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

7. Episode 7

Aired: 7/23/2006

Family cars feature this week, the Ford S-Max, Vauxhall Zafira VXR and the Mercedes B200 Turbo. The fast exotic car this week is the Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. James races two parkour enthusiasts from the city centre of Liverpool to the Liver Building. The lads take on the Stig in a race this week from the factory in London to Knockhill Racing Circuit in Scotland in Caterham 7 kitcars. Steve Coogan is the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.

8. Episode 8

Aired: 7/30/2006

Richard, James and Jeremy get behind the wheel of their vans to find out which is the best to drive, the easiest to steal and the fastest. Richard gets to drive the new Noble M15 and the Rolls Royce 101 EX concept car is in the studio. Ray Winstone is the star in a Reasonably Priced Car. Jenson Button also tries his luck around the track in the Liana.