Entertainment : 10 things you didn't know about Top Gear

1. The location of it's test track is Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, a former Canadian, W.W.II air base.
2. The test track was originally designed for Top Gear by Lotus Cars.
3.  Jeremy Clarkson is an author and journalist, and started his career writing for a local newspaper.
4. Along with co - presenter James May, Jeremy is hailed as the first man to ever drive a car to the North Pole, when he made Polar Challenge for Top Gear in 2007.  
5. Richard Hammond joined Top Gear as one of it's original presenters of it's re - launch in 2002. 
6. Richard Hammond is probably best remembered for his near fatal accident in York on the 20th of September in 2006, whilst filming a race in a Vampire Dragster for Top Gear. He crashed the dragster whilst travelling at 288 miles an hour and received serious head injuries, of which he has made a spectacular and full recovery.  
7. Of the three Top Gear presenters James May is the one most seen on T.V, as he has made several science series, as well series on wine, toys and music. 
8. James originally began his Top Gear career in 1999 until it's axe in 2001, joining the present line - up in 2003.
9. The Stig’s primary functions on the show are to post lap times in various cars around the Top Gear Test Track.
10. Clarkson has written that The Stig is not permitted to talk on screen because “any opinion he might voice on cars would be rubbish”, though he has been caught speaking on camera.