Top Gear Russia

Top Gear Russia
Title card
GenreMotoring
Created byBBC Worldwide
Developed byREN-TV
Presented byNikolai Fomenko
Mikhail Petrovsky
Oskar Kuchera
Theme music composerDickey Betts
Opening theme"Jessica"
Country of originRussia
Original languageRussian
No. of series1
Production
Executive producerCameron Miller
ProducersBBC Worldwide
Ren-TV
Production locationMoscow
Running time60 minutes (w/ commercials)
Original release
NetworkRen-TV
Release22 February (2009-02-22) –
25 October 2009 (2009-10-25)
Related
Top Gear (2002 TV series)
Top Gear Australia
Top Gear (US)
Top Gear Korea

Top Gear Russia (Russian: Top Gear: Русская версия, romanizedTop Gear: Russkaya versiya, lit.'Top Gear: Russian Version') is a Russian motoring television series that ran on Ren-TV, and was based on the British program Top Gear produced by the BBC. It premiered on 22 February 2009.[1] The show was cancelled due to low ratings and aired for the last time on 25 October 2009.

Presenters

The hosts of Top Gear Russia were:

  • Nikolai Fomenko, former musician (as part of the band Secret), former race car driver, theater actor and TV presenter. He is also involved in the creation of the Russian supercar Marussia.
  • Mikhail Petrovsky, actor,[citation needed] automotive journalist and blogger.
  • Oskar Kuchera, ex-MTV Russia presenter and actor.
  • The Stig, a local version of the mysterious driver from the original British show.[1]

Segments

Power Lap

Similar to the original UK series, Top Gear Russia features a Power Lap segment, in this case held in an abandoned airfield in Mnyovniki. To inaugurate the track and populate the lap board in the first episode, the hosts invited numerous local celebrities to participate and treated them to a picnic with shashlyk and a smoking samovar.

Lap times

Pos Time Car Conditions
1 1:12.00 Germany Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet damp
2 1:12.96 Japan Nissan GT-R wet
3 1:13.16 Germany 1985 Porsche 911 Turbo damp
4 1:13.88 United Kingdom Bentley Continental GT Speed damp and icy
5 1:14.00 Germany Alpina B3 moist
6 1:14.83 Italy Lamborghini Gallardo some snow+summer tyres
7 1:16.85 United Kingdom Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster damp
8 1:17.85 United Kingdom Aston Martin DB9 wet
9 1:19.00 Italy Ferrari 550M
10 1:21.01 United Kingdom Range Rover Sport damp
11 1:22.12 Japan Mazda MX-5 damp
12 1:22.27 Italy Fiat 500
13 1:49.17 Sweden Volvo XC90 snow
14 2:08.71 United Kingdom Land Rover Defender 90 SVX soft top ice+snow
15 2:15.93 Russia UAZ 469 Off-Road modified ice+snow
16 2:23.25 Germany Audi R8 snow
17 DNF Italy Ferrari F430 snow

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

The Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment are mirrored with Russia's own version. The car used is a race-prepped Lada Kalina. Unlike in the UK version of Top Gear, the lap format for this segment is different from that of the Stig's power laps.

Cool Wall

Introduced in episode 2 of season 1, the Cool Wall mirrors the popular segment from the UK original.

References

  1. ^ a b "In the Spotlight: This week, Ren-TV unveiled the Russian version of the British show about cars, "Top Gear."". The Moscow Times. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 8 March 2009.