S22 E1
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Season 22  "Race Across St. Petersburg"  22x1

Aired 9 years ago - Jan 25, 2015

The world's biggest car programme returns for an explosive and extra-long run of brand new programmes. In this first episode of the series, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Russia for an incredible race across the vast and very beautiful urban landscape of St Petersburg. May defends the honour of the car in a very small Renault, Hammond tries to prove that pedaling is faster by saddling up a bicycle, whilst Clarkson attempts to demonstrate that water is the quickest way across town, especially if you're in a hovercraft. To make matters more complicated, all three presenters are racing not only each other but also The Stig, who is silently making his way towards the finish line on public transport. Also in this episode, Richard Hammond is at the test track to find out if the dramatic new Lamborghini Huracan is as flamboyant and fun as an Italian supercar should be. Plus, celebrity guest Ed Sheeran tests his steely eyed driving skills as the star in the Reasonably Priced Car.

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Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 1
So, Jeremy got a map and a pin and because he's very tall
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 2
Now, it is expensive.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 3
Yes, thank you, Dr Clarkson. That's fascinating.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 4
~ 72 horsepower? ~ Each. ~ 72?
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 5
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 6
Wrong gear.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 7
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 8
this frame, and there are plastic panels hung all over it.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 9
and around the drinking bottle, so it doesn't hit the rider's shins,
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 10
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 11
Oh, hang on, I think that's him. Oh, no, there he is.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 12
Making a lane... Yes!
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 13
The derailleur's come off.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 14
James, hang on.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 15
Um...
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 16
Hertfordshire Police said, "It's not in the public interest
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 17
Everybody loves that song. You can't trust someone who doesn't like it.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 18
right in the middle of London. I've got the graph here from the week
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 19
~ That goes on the road. ~ Yeah, but you can drive a tractor on the road
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 20
~ Yeah. ~ They'll fit it with a burglar alarm that will go off every time
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 21
and I'm deeply, deeply sorry.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 22
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 23
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 24
And there's more hi-tech weaponry at this car's disposal.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 25
It's almost undefeatable.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 26
Basically - bear with me on this - it's the looks.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 27
Oh-ho-ho-ho!
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 28
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 29
So, would you drive a car designed by Weatherspoons?
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 30
Stig using a very delicate steer. No whiff of understeer.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 31
and serious stuff should live and Lamborghinis should be here,
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 32
~ on the London Underground! ~ No, it was... Yeah, it was just...
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 33
~ working your bottom off. ~ I haven't stopped yet. It's still...
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 34
I was more nervous about today, doing the lap. Genuinely, genuinely.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 35
Now, we'd better get on, I'm afraid, to the elephant in the room.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 36
bonus on things you should spend your bonus on - his family.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 37
Who'd like to see Ed's first-ever driving lesson on television?
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 38
How do you actually walk about when they're that big?
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 39
cos if you get it wrong that's what happens.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 40
And you, Ed Sheeran...
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 41
on rivers.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 42
Things wide enough for a horse.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 43
~ OK. ~ Really, can we? ~ Yes.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 44
Two ferries and a water taxi.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 45
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 46
They were much quieter, but there was now another problem.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 47
While James sat motionless, I was now entering the city centre...
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 48
on his stolen mountain bike.
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 49
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 50

Or scroll and see one by one:

Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 2
Now, it is expensive.
#2
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 3
Yes, thank you, Dr Clarkson. That's fascinating.
#3
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 4
~ 72 horsepower? ~ Each. ~ 72?
#4
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 5 #5 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 6
Wrong gear.
#6
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 7 #7 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 8
this frame, and there are plastic panels hung all over it.
#8
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 9
and around the drinking bottle, so it doesn't hit the rider's shins,
#9
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 10 #10 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 11
Oh, hang on, I think that's him. Oh, no, there he is.
#11
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 12
Making a lane... Yes!
#12
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 13
The derailleur's come off.
#13
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 14
James, hang on.
#14
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 15
Um...
#15
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 16
Hertfordshire Police said, "It's not in the public interest
#16
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 17
Everybody loves that song. You can't trust someone who doesn't like it.
#17
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 18
right in the middle of London. I've got the graph here from the week
#18
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 19
~ That goes on the road. ~ Yeah, but you can drive a tractor on the road
#19
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 20
~ Yeah. ~ They'll fit it with a burglar alarm that will go off every time
#20
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 21
and I'm deeply, deeply sorry.
#21
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 22 #22 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 23 #23 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 24
And there's more hi-tech weaponry at this car's disposal.
#24
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 25
It's almost undefeatable.
#25
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 26
Basically - bear with me on this - it's the looks.
#26
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 27
Oh-ho-ho-ho!
#27
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 28 #28 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 29
So, would you drive a car designed by Weatherspoons?
#29
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 30
Stig using a very delicate steer. No whiff of understeer.
#30
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 31
and serious stuff should live and Lamborghinis should be here,
#31
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 32
~ on the London Underground! ~ No, it was... Yeah, it was just...
#32
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 33
~ working your bottom off. ~ I haven't stopped yet. It's still...
#33
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 34
I was more nervous about today, doing the lap. Genuinely, genuinely.
#34
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 35
Now, we'd better get on, I'm afraid, to the elephant in the room.
#35
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 36
bonus on things you should spend your bonus on - his family.
#36
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 37
Who'd like to see Ed's first-ever driving lesson on television?
#37
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 38
How do you actually walk about when they're that big?
#38
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 39
cos if you get it wrong that's what happens.
#39
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 40
And you, Ed Sheeran...
#40
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 41
on rivers.
#41
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 42
Things wide enough for a horse.
#42
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 43
~ OK. ~ Really, can we? ~ Yes.
#43
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 44
Two ferries and a water taxi.
#44
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 45 #45 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 46
They were much quieter, but there was now another problem.
#46
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 47
While James sat motionless, I was now entering the city centre...
#47
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 48
on his stolen mountain bike.
#48
Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 49 #49 Recap of Top Gear Season 22 Episode 1 (S22E01) - 50 #50