The hosts of Top Gear have always pushed the limits of automotive testing, often with hilarious and sometimes disastrous results. In a test of three supercars – the Ford GT, Pagani Zonda, and the Ferrari F430 Spider – the trio of gearheads tested out their respective rides in the heart of France in 2005, proving that speed doesn’t matter if you can’t clear even the most mundane obstacles.
During the episode, James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond each take control of a low-slung, low-profile supercar to take for a ride through France. Things start off slow, at least in the literal sense, as the first challenge involves exiting a parking garage in the middle of Paris. They chide the Ford GT for its lack of frunk storage for Clarkson’s bag before tackling the apparently arduous task of leaving the garage itself.
The Zonda nose-dives and eats the asphalt as it leaves, prompting Clarkson and Hammond to get creative with a wooden pallet to create a ramp so it doesn’t happen again. Unfortunately, the Ford GT isn’t safe from the exit, either, but they manage to nurse it out of the garage without damage. The Ferrari, meanwhile, clears it no problem.
Then, it’s to the highways. Clarkson remarks that the Ford GT is the “most civilized” of the three supercars, and the most comfortable, as they eat up the miles. They decide to take a detour, just to get off the mundane motorway, driving through the countryside instead. Not only are they treated to a stunning view, they can now test all three supercars on twisting two-lane roads instead of the multilane highway.
Here, the Ferrari shines, hugging the road as May guides it around corners. Clarkson’s GT and Hammond’s Zonda have trouble keeping up, slinging their supercars after May while steadily losing ground. Moral of the story? The Ford GT is great on straight, long roads – but maybe not so much on twisting, scenic drives. That’s where the Ferrari shines, while the Zonda misbehaves when it’s given a little too much power.
Not surprising that Clarkson sings the Ford GT’s praises – he’s had a soft spot for the supercar for a while. Hammond also took the Ford Mustang for a spin in an earlier episode, too.
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