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Sundays 8:00 PM on BBC One
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Season 20  "New Zealand Yacht Race"  20x1

Aired 11 years ago - Jun 30, 2013

The motoring magazine returns with the action kicking off in New Zealand, as Jeremy Clarkson and James May race a car against a boat in a nail-biting battle up the beautiful coastline to the very tip of the North Island. The boat is a state-of-the-art America's Cup yacht, while the car is of a type many are familiar with yet have never before seen on Top Gear. Meanwhile, back in the UK, Richard Hammond attempts to find a hot hatch hero from a trio of newcomers, the Renaultsport Clio 200, Peugeot 208 GTI and Ford Fiesta ST, and a cavalcade of top stars assemble at the track to welcome a brand new Reasonably Priced Car.

Mouse over thumbnail for slideshow

Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 1
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 2
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 3
the Renault is aimed squarely at today's computer geeks.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 4
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 5
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 6
It might win, or come second...
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 7
It's not just about being nearer the ground.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 8
It's almost as though all the planets aligned to make this car.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 9
I'm told The Stig was listening to TV theme tunes there...
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 10
1.32.7, so it's in the middle, but it doesn't matter.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 11
Has anybody ever gone halfway through a motorway
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 12
You were standing by the side of a presumably busy main road,
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 13
LAUGHTER
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 14
but probably ten seconds, he's got enough for a supercharged Jag.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 15
Why don't you live at our end of it? Because my house is at the other end.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 16
Or perhaps from Aberystwyth down through the Irish Sea
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 17
'And this is what he would be up against.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 18
because do you know what makes this so fast?
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 19
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 20
It's right in front of us. In that bag?
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 21
12 knots, which is about 14mph in car terms.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 22
'This speed, however, did have its downsides.'
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 23
'The £65-a-day hire car and the £700,000 boat hunkered down
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 24
Can you congratulate him for how good he was in both Gandhi
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 25
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 26
It's drawn applause and I'm not surprised.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 27
'And soon everything was ready for our distinguished guests.'
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 28
'Since this was the maiden voyage for our new car,
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 29
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 30
'And whilst he was on the track,
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 31
I need to set a good lap time and how can I if this sort of disintegrates. "Is that his excuse?
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 32
Right, good. I'll leave the two of you alone. OK. Just to get to know each other.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 33
who made a beeline for the boxing machine.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 34
Good to meet you, how are you? Good, thank you.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 35
Joss, I have your time written down over here.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 36
Look who it is.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 37
If you're just hiding from him, he's one of the nicest people...
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 38
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 39
It's his hobby, but I think natural ability...tough to beat.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 40
So where do you think you've come?
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 41
But I was very miserable.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 42
MUSIC: "Always Take the Weather With You" by Crowded House
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 43
'I decided to use my sat phone to see where Jeremy was.'
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 44
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 45
'My plan was working well, but then the gravel ran out.'
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 46
Sir Ben Ainslie, sir? Yes!
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 47
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 48
Come on, James, give us a hand! It's not a bloody love boat.
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 49
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 50

Or scroll and see one by one:

Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 2 #2 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 3
the Renault is aimed squarely at today's computer geeks.
#3
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 4 #4 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 5 #5 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 6
It might win, or come second...
#6
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 7
It's not just about being nearer the ground.
#7
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 8
It's almost as though all the planets aligned to make this car.
#8
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 9
I'm told The Stig was listening to TV theme tunes there...
#9
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 10
1.32.7, so it's in the middle, but it doesn't matter.
#10
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 11
Has anybody ever gone halfway through a motorway
#11
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 12
You were standing by the side of a presumably busy main road,
#12
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 13
LAUGHTER
#13
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 14
but probably ten seconds, he's got enough for a supercharged Jag.
#14
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 15
Why don't you live at our end of it? Because my house is at the other end.
#15
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 16
Or perhaps from Aberystwyth down through the Irish Sea
#16
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 17
'And this is what he would be up against.
#17
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 18
because do you know what makes this so fast?
#18
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 19 #19 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 20
It's right in front of us. In that bag?
#20
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 21
12 knots, which is about 14mph in car terms.
#21
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 22
'This speed, however, did have its downsides.'
#22
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 23
'The £65-a-day hire car and the £700,000 boat hunkered down
#23
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 24
Can you congratulate him for how good he was in both Gandhi
#24
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 25 #25 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 26
It's drawn applause and I'm not surprised.
#26
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 27
'And soon everything was ready for our distinguished guests.'
#27
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 28
'Since this was the maiden voyage for our new car,
#28
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 29 #29 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 30
'And whilst he was on the track,
#30
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 31
I need to set a good lap time and how can I if this sort of disintegrates. "Is that his excuse?
#31
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 32
Right, good. I'll leave the two of you alone. OK. Just to get to know each other.
#32
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 33
who made a beeline for the boxing machine.
#33
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 34
Good to meet you, how are you? Good, thank you.
#34
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 35
Joss, I have your time written down over here.
#35
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 36
Look who it is.
#36
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 37
If you're just hiding from him, he's one of the nicest people...
#37
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 38 #38 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 39
It's his hobby, but I think natural ability...tough to beat.
#39
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 40
So where do you think you've come?
#40
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 41
But I was very miserable.
#41
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 42
MUSIC: "Always Take the Weather With You" by Crowded House
#42
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 43
'I decided to use my sat phone to see where Jeremy was.'
#43
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 44 #44 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 45
'My plan was working well, but then the gravel ran out.'
#45
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 46
Sir Ben Ainslie, sir? Yes!
#46
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 47 #47 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 48
Come on, James, give us a hand! It's not a bloody love boat.
#48
Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 49 #49 Recap of Top Gear Season 20 Episode 1 (S20E01) - 50 #50