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The Kwazulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu with The Stig.

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Here’s some good news for all you Jeremy Clarkson fans. The organisers of the Top Gear Festival confirmed this week that this year’s event will take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on June 16 and 17.

It will include a live stadium show and fans can expect the zany Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May trio to be in top form once again in South Africa. And, yes, the Stig is coming too.

The event has partnered with the Province of KwaZulu-Natal and the City of Durban to bring Top Gear’s first-ever stadium show to one of the world’s most iconic stadiums.

NONSENSICAL CHALLENGES

According to organisers fans can expect an adrenaline-charged experience including FMX bikes, rally cars, stunt driving by the Top Gear Live Stunt Driving Team and those nonsensical challenges synonymous with the well-known television show. A highlight will be a motorised version of the actual Top Gear studio, and the presenters will be delivering the irreverent humour we’ve come to expect.

Fans can also expect samples of the world’s finest supercars as well as cars modified beyond the norm. An expo will include these supercars in the flesh, flanked by classics and motoring memorabilia.

MORE INTERACTIVE

Organisers reckon the experience will be more interactive than before too, with the stadium’s surrounding precinct and Peoples Park promising a variety of outdoor activity.

The festival will host its first-ever street circuit, which will be over 2 kilometres long and wind through the streets of Durban. Expect Stig power laps, head-to-head racing, supercars, drag racing, drifting, and celebrity race challenges. Motorsport South Africa will be showcasing local talent on the street circuit through Super Production Car Series and VW Polo Challenge Series-based events.

In terms of big names, last year’s festival was graced by racing legends such as David Coulthard, Jody Scheckter, Sir Stirling Moss, Derek Bell, Eddie Jordan and Sabine Schmitz.

The organisers are still confirming this year’s line-up but assure us it will be as impressive.

The Festival will run from 10am to 8pm on Saturday June 16 and from 11am to 8pm on Sunday June 17. There will be two stadium shows per day – at 2.30pm and 8.30pm on Saturday, and at 2.30pm and 7.30pm on Sunday. Tickets are on sale and cost between R250 to R995. Visit www.itickets.co.za or www.topgearfestival.co.za for more info. -Mercury Motoring

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