Top Gear - Middle East Special Full !!link!! Episode -
The exact made to the three roadsters
Each presenter was given a strict budget of £3,500 to purchase their vehicle. The catch, which added immediate tension to the episode, was that the starting location was undisclosed until they landed. The team touched down at an airfield in Erbil, a city in the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq—marking the first time a major Western television production had filmed extensively in the region since the Iraq War. The Vehicle Lineup
After clearing intense border security checkpoints, the trio entered Israel, drove past the Sea of Galilee, and made their way into the West Bank. The journey concluded at a stable in Bethlehem, where they presented their gifts to a "baby" that turned out to be a miniature version of The Stig. Why the Middle East Special Remains an All-Time Great A Snapshot of History
If you are hunting for the , you are likely craving these iconic scenes. Spoilers ahead—but after 15 years, we consider them sacred history. top gear - middle east special full episode
Whenever a presenter's car broke down permanently, they were threatened with driving the ultimate punishment vehicle. For this trip, the producers provided a brightly painted Opel Astra Cabriolet playing loud, continuous traditional music. This incentivized the trio to keep their failing sports cars running at all costs.
Presented as a Christmas special, the trio was tasked with purchasing second-hand two-door convertible sports cars for under £3,500. Their journey began in , after being dropped off by a Russian cargo plane with no prior knowledge of their starting location. Car Selected Jeremy Clarkson Mazda MX-5 Richard Hammond Fiat Barchetta Riviera James May The Route: From Iraq to Bethlehem
During filming in Syria, May suffered a concussion after being knocked over by a tow rope. He was famously collected from the hospital by Clarkson and Hammond, who were disguised in burqas. The exact made to the three roadsters Each
Opted for a Fiat Barchetta . The Italian roadster brought style but immediate reliability concerns. Hammond modified his vehicle by raised suspension and adding a festive, bedouin-inspired tent fabric over the chassis to block the intense desert sun.
: It is frequently cited as one of the best Top Gear specials. Jeremy Clarkson has described it as the best of their adventures to watch.
This special was the second of two Christmas specials in 2010. The premise is simple and brilliant: the presenters must reenact the journey of the Three Wise Men, traveling from "the East" to a stable in Bethlehem. The Vehicle Lineup After clearing intense border security
A Mazda MX-5 (NA), which he famously customized with a unique camouflage paint job and a built-in pipe for smoking.
A: Yes. The DVD release includes an additional 20 minutes of deleted scenes, including a longer argument at the Israeli border and an extra breakdown in the Syrian desert.
The episode concludes with the trio arriving at a stable in Bethlehem. In true Top Gear fashion, the "Baby Jesus" waiting for them in the manger was not a child, but a miniature version of their mysterious racing driver, . 💡 Fascinating Behind-the-Scenes Facts
To survive the terrain, the cars were heavily modified. Hammond's Fiat was turned into a "nomadic tent," Clarkson’s Mazda featured a "Technicolour Dreamcoat" paint job, and May’s BMW was camouflaged.