1 00:00:21,360 --> 00:00:23,560 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 2 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:35,040 Hello and welcome to Top Gear. 3 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,800 Tonight, a very exciting show for me, 4 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,240 because I get to fulfil a proper bucket-list ambition of mine. 5 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,280 You finally got your Greggs gold card. 6 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:45,920 No, not that. No? 7 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,080 Did you read a book? Don't go mad! Don't go mad. 8 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,400 Tonight's the night I become a proper trucker. 9 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,280 Yes, we're kicking off by talking about HGVs. 10 00:00:56,280 --> 00:00:58,400 PADDY HONKS 11 00:00:58,400 --> 00:01:00,880 That's...me impression of an HGV. 12 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:02,400 Yes, we are, Pad. Thank you. 13 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:04,000 Because, as you may have heard, 14 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,600 Britain is in the grip of an HGV crisis. 15 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:08,760 There's not enough drivers to get the stuff we need 16 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:10,960 to the places it needs to go. 17 00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:13,720 But what does it take to be an HGV driver? 18 00:01:13,720 --> 00:01:17,320 We decided to do some trucking research and find out. 19 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,520 PADDY: Because there's no better way to learn than "in at the deep end" 20 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,760 our mission to become fully fledged HGV drivers 21 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,840 would start in the sensibly wide-open space... 22 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:37,400 ..of Leeds East Airfield, 23 00:01:37,400 --> 00:01:42,600 where the producers had blagged a couple of colourful examples 24 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,800 to see what we'd make of 'em. 25 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,040 Hey, the big leagues. 26 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:51,480 Look at these. The big leagues. 27 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:53,160 Have you driven one of these before? 28 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,200 Never dri... I've driven a 22-tonne dump truck. Right. 29 00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,440 But I've never been behind the wheel of an HGV. 30 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,640 And me dad was an HGV driver. Was he? 31 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,480 Oh yeah. The romance of it. Did he let you pull the...? 32 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:04,960 HE HONKS 33 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,600 Oh, all that. I'm all over it. So... I cannot... 34 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,800 I think everyone growing up wants to drive a lorry. 35 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,080 I'm nervous about it. You're nervous? Yeah. 36 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,120 This is the ideal vehicle for you. 37 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:19,160 Your trouble is you've been getting into little sports cars 38 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,800 and everything, you've not... This is you now. 39 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,400 This is you. And as well, might I add, I've spotted mine. 40 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:26,680 "McGuinness." 41 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:29,160 Do you know what? I can't even argue, can I? 42 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:31,320 That's got you on. 43 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,760 Mine's called Lynda! 44 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:36,560 Hey, do you know what...what's missing here? What? 45 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:38,840 The little fella. Yeah. 46 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:40,480 But... How's he gonna get in? 47 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:42,320 Exactly! How's he gonna get in? Exactly! 48 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:45,520 Oh, here we go. 49 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:47,160 Oh-ho-ho-ho! Come on, get in. 50 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:53,560 Oh, there's a bed and everything! 51 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:02,000 Oh, look at... What the hell's this? 52 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:03,720 This can't be right, this. 53 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:07,520 Oh! This is good. 54 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:09,800 Oh, seat belt. What's going on? Come on. 55 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:11,640 Why's that not coming down now? 56 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,920 Oh, there we go. That's better. 57 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:17,560 Ooh, ooh. Look! 58 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,440 Come on. Don't do this to me. 59 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:24,720 This seat belt's... Me seat belt's stuck. 60 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:30,680 ON RADIO: Ah, good buddy, ten-four. 61 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,360 I'm having a bit of trouble with me seat belt. 62 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:36,760 Has yours locked up as well? I can't get mine out. 63 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,960 I didn't see Kris Kristofferson having this problem in Convoy. 64 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:46,080 I'm wondering if you've gotta turn the engine on, Fred, first. 65 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:47,880 ENGINE STARTS 66 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:51,360 Hey! 67 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:52,720 Oh! 68 00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:56,400 ON SPEAKER: We've done it! We've cracked it! 69 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:59,000 Right, come on. Handbrake's off. 70 00:04:01,520 --> 00:04:03,320 Is that off? 71 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:04,560 Oh! 72 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:07,520 I'm moving, Pad. 73 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:12,960 Oh, hang on. 74 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,760 We're trucking, young buddy! 75 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:21,360 If me dad could see me now. Go on! 76 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:26,280 It's so long at the back. I keep looking. 77 00:04:26,280 --> 00:04:27,920 I don't know where the back is. 78 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,560 I've driven everything on Top Gear, 79 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:37,440 from £1,000 bangers to £4 million supercars, 80 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:40,320 and this tops the lot. 81 00:04:41,960 --> 00:04:45,120 I've gotta say, Fred, I've got the biggest grin on my face. 82 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,640 This is fantastic. 83 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:50,840 What gear are you in? 84 00:04:50,840 --> 00:04:54,120 I "think" third. 85 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,160 Well, if the early signs were anything to go by... 86 00:04:58,160 --> 00:04:59,880 What gear's that? 87 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:03,080 ..we were natural-born truckers. 88 00:05:03,080 --> 00:05:04,960 GEAR CRUNCHES 89 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:08,200 which was just as well, because it turned out someone else 90 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:11,560 had been busy sneaking in his own early practice. 91 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,080 'Ey up - I can spy another rig. 92 00:05:22,040 --> 00:05:23,800 Not that it mattered. 93 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:25,640 BLEEP! Where's the brake pedal? Sh... 94 00:05:27,640 --> 00:05:29,560 Bit sharp on the brake, but... 95 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:37,800 What did matter, now we were all together, 96 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:42,080 were a couple of crucial bits of trucking business. 97 00:05:42,080 --> 00:05:45,680 Right, now, before we go, I've got a little app on me phone 98 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:49,560 for your official CB call name, your trucker name. 99 00:05:50,800 --> 00:05:52,640 OK, Chris, we'll start with you. 100 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,440 So it's your initials, CH, so C... 101 00:05:57,360 --> 00:05:59,920 ..Chopper! 102 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:02,600 H... Hog. 103 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,680 Chopper Hog. That's you. 104 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,640 Right, here's mine. P... 105 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:10,880 ..Professor. 106 00:06:13,280 --> 00:06:16,200 Moose. Professor Moose. 107 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,400 Right, Fred, now I'm gonna give you the option here. 108 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:20,680 Do you wanna start with F or A? 109 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:24,080 Let's try A first. I'll go for me Sunday name, Andrew. 110 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,040 Admiral. 111 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:27,720 I chose well. 112 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:30,800 F... 113 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,560 So you are Admiral Fiddler. 114 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,600 I am not having that. I am not having that! 115 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:45,840 You've just made my entire year, McGuinness. 116 00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:48,080 Admiral Fiddler! 117 00:06:48,080 --> 00:06:49,360 No! 118 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:56,600 Official naming ceremony done with, next on the trucking to-do list 119 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,600 was the obligatory drag race. 120 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:05,560 And since Sean Taylor also seemed to be a racing enthusiast, 121 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,440 Harris had to perform. 122 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,000 Now, my brief experience of this vehicle, 123 00:07:11,000 --> 00:07:12,680 I was told not to hurry the gearbox. 124 00:07:12,680 --> 00:07:16,120 I'm gonna be slow gear shifts, and use the torque. 125 00:07:16,120 --> 00:07:17,880 STARTER: Standing by. 126 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:25,200 In three, two, one... 127 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,400 I've stalled it. I've stalled it. 128 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:29,920 Oh-ho! 129 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:38,560 STARTER: Standing by to go in three, two, one. 130 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:41,640 Go! 131 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,400 Yeah! Here we go. 132 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,040 Oh! We've done 'em! 133 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:52,880 Oh, Paddy's off. 134 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,880 Breaker one-nine. Breaker one-nine. 135 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:56,720 We've got a big rubber duck. 136 00:07:58,280 --> 00:07:59,600 FREDDIE'S ENGINE SPLUTTERS 137 00:07:59,600 --> 00:08:02,160 Ooh, that's not right. 138 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:03,680 Oh! 139 00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,680 He's got... McGuinness has got a much bigger engine than me. 140 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,760 What is going on here? 141 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:13,360 I'm coming up on Paddy now. 142 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,480 Oh! Yeah, we're going, we're going, we're going! 143 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,880 A bit too soon, Fred. Watch me go, boys! Look at this! 144 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,520 Oh, God, no! He's back on me! 145 00:08:22,520 --> 00:08:23,920 Damn you, Harris! 146 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:27,600 Oh-ho-ho! Ho-ho-ho-ho! 147 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:31,360 Oh, I was in the wrong gear! 148 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:35,880 We're flying, me and the Scania. 149 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,120 Come on! Come on! 150 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,600 Not a chance, Fiddler. Not a chance. 151 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:43,720 Admiral, it is. Admiral! 152 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,760 Look at that! It's a massive victory! 153 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:56,920 Well, lads, I don't know what to say. That was an annihilation. 154 00:08:56,920 --> 00:08:59,080 Did you stall on the line, Paddy? I can't remember. 155 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:00,960 Did you? Was it you or was it Chris? 156 00:09:00,960 --> 00:09:03,240 Yeah, I don't think I stalled. Did you stall, Fred? 157 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:05,400 No, I didn't. I just got in it and did it! 158 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,440 Now, if you're thinking that, in the world of HGVs, 159 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,800 a drag race is about as irrelevant as it gets, 160 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:21,000 then it's just as well this next bit was much more important. 161 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:22,440 Horn. 162 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:26,480 I wanna hear your horns. Let's go, lads. Fred horn first. 163 00:09:26,480 --> 00:09:28,760 DEEP BLAST 164 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:29,720 It's like the QE2. 165 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:32,400 HORN CONTINUES 166 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:33,680 McGuinness, let's hear yours. 167 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:36,640 DAINTY TOOT 168 00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:39,120 What's that?! What's that? "Meep!" 169 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:40,560 PADDY TOOTS 170 00:09:40,560 --> 00:09:42,760 Gotta be honest, that's ruined the day for me. 171 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,000 Right, lads, here we go. 172 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:46,800 LOUD, MELODIC BLARE 173 00:09:46,800 --> 00:09:48,200 Oh! 174 00:09:48,200 --> 00:09:50,360 HORN CONTINUES 175 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:54,520 That's proper! 176 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,000 FREDDIE GROANS 177 00:09:57,000 --> 00:09:59,840 And to make sure we'd turned over every page 178 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:04,560 of the HGV driver's playbook, we still needed to test precision. 179 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,280 So, in the time it took to lay out a few cones, 180 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,240 we had ourselves a reversing race. 181 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:16,880 First to back up into their bay is king of the big rigs. 182 00:10:16,880 --> 00:10:18,480 STARTER: Three, two... Come on. 183 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,760 ...one, go. 184 00:10:26,800 --> 00:10:28,240 Oh, oh, oh. 185 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:32,760 Right, we've got this. 186 00:10:34,760 --> 00:10:35,880 Here we go. 187 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:38,680 Straight back. 188 00:10:38,680 --> 00:10:40,400 I can't really see down the side of it. 189 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:41,720 I'm making the turn. 190 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:47,720 Left hand down. Left hand down. 191 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,360 Ho-ho-ho. This is tricky! 192 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:51,920 Oh, God. I'm all over the place. 193 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:53,840 I'm gonna go forwards again. 194 00:10:54,880 --> 00:10:56,920 Whoa! 195 00:10:56,920 --> 00:10:58,560 You've cut me off, Fred. 196 00:10:58,560 --> 00:10:59,880 I can promise you 197 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,400 it's not intentional. 198 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,760 I'll straighten it out. This is awful! 199 00:11:05,760 --> 00:11:09,320 Come on. Come on, Harris. 200 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:10,960 PADDY: You're in my bay, you clown. 201 00:11:11,920 --> 00:11:13,240 CHRIS LAUGHS 202 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:16,400 Come on. Come on. 203 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:18,520 Get out of me bay! 204 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:20,160 I'm in, I'm in. 205 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:21,560 I'm in. 206 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:23,920 I'm in. I'm in. I'm in, boys! 207 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:26,600 How am I supposed to get in? 208 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,400 It doesn't matter cos I've already won. 209 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:31,960 You've won because I've had to wait cos that... 210 00:11:31,960 --> 00:11:35,920 ...gormless get cut me off and then went in my bay! 211 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:37,720 DEEP HORN BLAST 212 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:43,800 I'm blocking him in. 213 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,000 LOUD, COMMANDING HORN 214 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:51,120 I tell you, you'd be causing murder at Moto services, 215 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:52,520 you here, Paddy. 216 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:55,120 You OK, Patrick? 217 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:57,040 That'll teach you for taking my bay! 218 00:11:57,040 --> 00:11:58,480 What's happened? 219 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,920 You literally cut me off and parked in me bay! 220 00:12:00,920 --> 00:12:02,640 This ain't... Nobody said... 221 00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:04,760 That's yours, that's his, that's mine! 222 00:12:04,760 --> 00:12:06,400 Nobody said, "That's my bay." 223 00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:07,600 They did... 224 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,280 Now, at this point, it was suggested to us that, 225 00:12:10,280 --> 00:12:13,320 if we were ever to become real-life HGV drivers, 226 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:16,920 we should probably get a few lessons, 227 00:12:16,920 --> 00:12:21,400 so we all booked in on an intensive training course, 228 00:12:21,400 --> 00:12:25,960 and set out to get our licences as soon as possible. 229 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,480 Oh, yes! 230 00:12:49,480 --> 00:12:53,480 One qualified truck driver at your service. 231 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,840 You are now looking at a graduate from 232 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:04,960 the HGV University. Ho-ho! Nothing can stop me now. 233 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:11,480 And as the newest member of the HGV Club, 234 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:12,800 I was ready to take my place 235 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,960 alongside the great hauliers of Britain. 236 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:21,320 Look, look, there's one there. Look at that. 237 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:22,880 I can drive that! 238 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:25,160 I am driving that. I'm driving this. 239 00:13:25,160 --> 00:13:27,440 It's just bonkers! 240 00:13:30,680 --> 00:13:32,280 HORN HONKS 241 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,840 Ah-ha-ha! Who's this I spy? 242 00:13:35,840 --> 00:13:37,800 Here we go, Mr McGuinness. 243 00:13:37,800 --> 00:13:42,000 Fully certified and ready to truck. 244 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,720 This feels very grown-up indeed. 245 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:46,520 I tell you what, little Chopper, 246 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:47,920 get yourself up in front, son. 247 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:49,320 Go on, tuck in there. 248 00:13:51,600 --> 00:13:56,480 Just one more for a full house. 249 00:13:56,480 --> 00:13:59,080 The Admiral reporting for duty, sir. 250 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,600 Hello, the Admiral! 251 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,760 Go on, lead us out, son. 252 00:14:03,760 --> 00:14:05,320 PADDY CHUCKLES 253 00:14:07,440 --> 00:14:11,920 Oh, yes, we had ourselves a convoy. 254 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,160 Come on, then, lads, time to own up. 255 00:14:17,160 --> 00:14:19,160 On your HGV test, 256 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:21,440 how many minor faults? 257 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:22,880 Just one for me. 258 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,560 Two for the Professor. Three. 259 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:28,360 What were yours for, Chris? Not reaching the pedals? 260 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:32,440 What about the theory? First time? 261 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,760 A first-time pass for the Professor, 262 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,080 but that was just a given. 263 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:38,840 Well played, Pad. I must admit, second time for me. 264 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:41,560 What about the Chopper? 265 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:43,040 I technically passed 266 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:46,400 the first time that I took the examination. 267 00:14:46,400 --> 00:14:48,360 Explain, Christopher. 268 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:50,320 The first time, I didn't have my licence with me 269 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:51,960 and they sent me home. 270 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,360 I drove four hours to London and they sent me home. 271 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:55,360 CHUCKLES 272 00:14:56,440 --> 00:14:57,840 It's a cursory lesson 273 00:14:57,840 --> 00:14:59,760 to everyone out there - follow the rules. 274 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:02,320 And as I'm realising with the whole world of trucking, 275 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:05,120 it's a more grown-up world than driving a car, isn't it? 276 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:07,560 Oh, yes, it is, 277 00:15:07,560 --> 00:15:11,000 especially when you're driving 278 00:15:11,000 --> 00:15:14,040 the world's most powerful truck. 279 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,360 Welcome to the Scania 770S, 280 00:15:20,360 --> 00:15:22,640 the big dog of the trucking world. 281 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:29,080 770 horsepower and a turbo-charged 16-litre V8. 282 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,520 What I'm driving here 283 00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:33,120 is the Bugatti Chiron of the trucking world. 284 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,920 Ohhh... 285 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,480 The envious looks I get off the other truckers! 286 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,840 They all want to be behind the wheel of the big ol' Scania. 287 00:15:43,440 --> 00:15:45,160 Do they, though? 288 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:47,600 Because when you're hauling serious miles, 289 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:51,840 real truckers know that comfort is king. 290 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:57,880 You're a trucker, you're in this for hours and hours every day. 291 00:15:57,880 --> 00:15:59,760 You don't need 700 horsepower, 292 00:15:59,760 --> 00:16:02,200 what you need is space, 293 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:03,640 somewhere to stretch out. 294 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:07,240 This is the biggest, most spacious, 295 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:10,520 most comfortable cab money can buy. 296 00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,440 This is the DAF XG+, 297 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:18,680 the Rolls-Royce Phantom of the trucking world. 298 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,920 I've gone tech. 299 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:28,840 This is the new Mercedes-Benz Actros, 300 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:31,880 and it really is the Tomorrow's World of HGVs. 301 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:37,720 All the tech you see here, the camera mirrors, 302 00:16:37,720 --> 00:16:38,800 all the screens, 303 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:41,520 all the self-driving help for the HGV driver, 304 00:16:41,520 --> 00:16:43,400 it's going to percolate down 305 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,920 into HGVs over the next five years. 306 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:49,920 I am driving, quite literally, the future. 307 00:16:51,440 --> 00:16:53,360 In fact, forget Actros, 308 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:56,840 this is the Mercedes S-Class of the trucking world. 309 00:16:57,800 --> 00:16:59,560 And I tell you what, 310 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:02,400 it's naffing comfortable and very, very quiet. 311 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:12,400 So, three proper truckers in three proper trucks. 312 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,120 It was just as well that we'd been given 313 00:17:16,120 --> 00:17:17,800 our first trucking mission. 314 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,440 Each of our trailers had been loaded 315 00:17:21,440 --> 00:17:24,440 with a mystery cargo that we'd have to deliver 316 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,920 to the south coast of Wales by early the next morning. 317 00:17:31,240 --> 00:17:33,720 And that meant we had plenty of time 318 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,880 to squeeze in that new trucker's rite of passage, 319 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:42,320 taking a break at a good old-fashioned truck stop. 320 00:17:42,320 --> 00:17:43,600 I tell you what, they look well, 321 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:45,000 the three of them together, don't they? 322 00:17:45,000 --> 00:17:46,320 They do. 323 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:47,840 I can't believe you boys haven't embraced 324 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:49,280 the trucking attire. 325 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:50,880 That's not trucking attire! 326 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:52,120 It is! 327 00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:53,760 Can we walk in a bit behind him? 328 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:58,000 The thing is, though, truck stops these days... 329 00:17:58,000 --> 00:17:59,480 This is way too nice! 330 00:17:59,480 --> 00:18:03,200 ...aren't quite as old-fashioned as you'd think. 331 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:04,400 Oh... 332 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:07,920 Oh, very nice. 333 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:10,800 Chris? Yes? 334 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:12,440 I don't want to stereotype truckers, 335 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,400 but I didn't realise they wore cufflinks. 336 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,080 I know. This is... 337 00:18:16,080 --> 00:18:17,920 This is... This is next-gen. 338 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:20,560 Hello, I'm sorry to ask, but do you do 339 00:18:20,560 --> 00:18:21,920 an oat-milk latte? I do. 340 00:18:21,920 --> 00:18:24,400 MILK FROTHING 341 00:18:24,400 --> 00:18:26,040 Hey! 342 00:18:26,040 --> 00:18:28,080 They only do the oat-milk lattes! 343 00:18:28,080 --> 00:18:29,440 Do they? I can't believe it! 344 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:32,240 I've got to say... 345 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,160 ...this isn't what I expected. 346 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,240 I thought it was going to be a greasy-spoon job. 347 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,040 No, this is... This is proper. 348 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,880 I tell you, I'm spoilt for choice. 349 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:45,560 Buy a TV! 350 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:47,360 Look at this, here! Pillows! 351 00:18:49,320 --> 00:18:51,440 What tractors do you drive, anyhow? 352 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:54,480 I've got the Scania. The Scania R450. 353 00:18:54,480 --> 00:18:56,560 Ooh. I'm a 770S man. 354 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:58,760 Ooh, Scania's quick. It is quick. 355 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:01,160 They've got some really nice ratchet straps here. 356 00:19:01,160 --> 00:19:02,680 I'm thinking of doing a big shop. 357 00:19:02,680 --> 00:19:05,200 Very civilised. This is lovely. 358 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:09,720 Lads, if this is trucking, I'm in. 359 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:12,160 This is a nice coffee. If this is trucking, I'm in! 360 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:13,600 That's a lovely coffee. 361 00:19:13,600 --> 00:19:16,200 I can't understand why there's a shortage in the industry. 362 00:19:16,200 --> 00:19:18,440 What a way to live! Best job ever. 363 00:19:18,440 --> 00:19:21,400 And, once we'd fully brimmed 364 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,120 on foamy milk and freshly baked goods... 365 00:19:27,120 --> 00:19:28,200 ...back on the road, 366 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,560 we were soon discovering that real-world trucking comes 367 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,480 with even more unexpected perks. 368 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:36,880 I tell you one thing all car drivers 369 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,160 would appreciate about trucks - 370 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,320 the windscreen wipers are fantastic. 371 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:47,240 They just give you the cleanest, crispest wipe - 372 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:49,000 for want of a better phrase. 373 00:19:49,000 --> 00:19:50,080 And the washers. 374 00:19:50,080 --> 00:19:51,520 Watch this. 375 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:53,240 Look at that! 376 00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:56,240 Just...perfect sweeping! 377 00:19:57,440 --> 00:19:59,840 Joyous! I love a good wiper. 378 00:20:07,400 --> 00:20:09,840 Do you know what else is lovely about driving these trucks? 379 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:11,480 When you're driving past cars, 380 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:14,320 you can have a good nosey down at inside the cab. 381 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:16,480 You get a glimpse into someone's life, don't you, 382 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:18,320 when you look into the car from this angle? 383 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:19,960 Each to their own. 384 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:21,520 I'm easily pleased. 385 00:20:21,520 --> 00:20:23,040 CHUCKLES 386 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,880 And it turns out so are the producers... 387 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,160 ...because since we were making such effortless progress, 388 00:20:32,160 --> 00:20:35,600 they'd decided it was time to see who had really come out 389 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,240 top of the trucking class. 390 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:42,720 And that meant making a stop at an RAF base. 391 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:48,040 Lads, that looks like two helicopters. 392 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:51,360 That's a wide load, that is! 393 00:20:52,520 --> 00:20:53,600 Yes, it was. 394 00:20:56,840 --> 00:21:00,200 To test our precision truck-driving skills, 395 00:21:00,200 --> 00:21:01,720 we'd now take turns towing 396 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,760 an inconveniently arranged pair of helicopters 397 00:21:04,760 --> 00:21:07,120 through a twisty slalom course. 398 00:21:09,400 --> 00:21:11,960 With a time penalty for any gates clipped, 399 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:15,120 the cleanest, fastest run would win, 400 00:21:15,120 --> 00:21:19,120 which meant I'd need to summon all 625 horsepower 401 00:21:19,120 --> 00:21:22,760 from the mighty Mercedes 15.6-litre straight six. 402 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:29,480 Yeah, before I set off, and in advance of you doing it, 403 00:21:29,480 --> 00:21:30,720 I can tell you 404 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:34,120 that the old camera mirrors weren't designed for this! 405 00:21:34,120 --> 00:21:36,120 BOTH LAUGH 406 00:21:36,120 --> 00:21:37,840 Well, good luck. 407 00:21:37,840 --> 00:21:41,440 Three, two, one, go! 408 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:44,680 Hoh! Ho-hooo! 409 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:46,280 That's a slow start. 410 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:48,040 Wowsers! 411 00:21:48,040 --> 00:21:50,280 Why's he going so slow? I don't know. 412 00:21:50,280 --> 00:21:53,920 Towing two helicopters. I'm not aware of the weight. 413 00:21:53,920 --> 00:21:56,080 I've got over 2,000 foot-pound of torque. 414 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:58,480 That's a penalty. The state of it! 415 00:21:58,480 --> 00:21:59,720 Is that about the middle? 416 00:21:59,720 --> 00:22:01,120 Oh, he's panicking. Oh, here we go. 417 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:02,400 This is him now. Oh, he's at an angle. 418 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:04,200 Oh, it's at an angle, that, as well. Look at it! 419 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,240 CLANG! 420 00:22:07,240 --> 00:22:08,720 CHEERING 421 00:22:08,720 --> 00:22:09,880 There we go. That's one over. 422 00:22:09,880 --> 00:22:12,880 First one, bosh! Knocked it over. 423 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:14,160 I'm going to give it beans. 424 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:16,400 We're going to save some time. I'm giving it beans. 425 00:22:16,400 --> 00:22:18,400 Go on, hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it, hit it! 426 00:22:18,400 --> 00:22:20,240 He's got to get through this one. 427 00:22:20,240 --> 00:22:22,000 Wah-ho! 428 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:23,280 Straight through at speed! 429 00:22:23,280 --> 00:22:24,640 THEY GROAN That's disappointing. 430 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:27,960 I've got to say, 431 00:22:27,960 --> 00:22:30,600 this place, like a penthouse. 432 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,080 It's lovely, innit? I tell you what, 433 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:34,360 you've not seen any of it. Absolutely fantastic! 434 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,320 Right, again, I'm going flat-out. 435 00:22:39,960 --> 00:22:41,920 CLANG! Oh, hit that one. 436 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,240 Ohhh! 437 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,000 BOTH LAUGHING 438 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:49,920 Oh! I tell ya. Look at it all. 439 00:22:49,920 --> 00:22:51,800 You've got everything... I could get into it. 440 00:22:51,800 --> 00:22:54,120 Everything's digital. ...on screens. Apple CarPlay. 441 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:57,800 Have a try at the driving seat. How comfy? 442 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:00,640 CLANG! 443 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,280 Ohhhh! Oh, he's here! 444 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:04,120 He's back! We forgot about him! 445 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,760 Over the line! For glory! 446 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:09,160 That... Ohh! EXHALES 447 00:23:09,160 --> 00:23:11,040 I tell you what, we loved that. 448 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:13,640 That bit you did down there and round the back? 449 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:15,240 Oh, fantastic. 450 00:23:18,120 --> 00:23:20,800 Next, time to see what Flintoff could do 451 00:23:20,800 --> 00:23:23,600 with 100 less horsepower in his DAF. 452 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,280 I've got to be honest, Fred, being back 453 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,840 in the old Scania, I'm a bit envious of yours. 454 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:32,160 I tell you what, the DAF is lovely, isn't it? 455 00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:33,360 And what's that? 456 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:34,480 I can stand up. 457 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,200 I can stand up with my arms up. 458 00:23:36,200 --> 00:23:37,400 This is my tummy out. 459 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:40,480 Here we go! 460 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,040 Three, two, one... 461 00:23:43,040 --> 00:23:45,600 Go! Whoa... 462 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:47,960 Oh, I expected more off the line. 463 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:49,440 Foot's on the floor. 464 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:51,880 Now, let's watch him on the first bend, as per. 465 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:54,520 Now, this is where you caught one, Christopher. 466 00:23:54,520 --> 00:23:55,760 I caught one on the right. 467 00:23:55,760 --> 00:23:58,160 I'm just guessing. Just guessing. 468 00:23:58,160 --> 00:23:59,240 CLANG! 469 00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:01,040 Oh, same one! 470 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:03,400 He's knocked it over. Same one. So, there you go. 471 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:04,520 Oh, I tell you what, 472 00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:06,760 it's a different beast with a bit of weight. 473 00:24:06,760 --> 00:24:09,840 I've got to say, being in that DAF, 474 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,960 there's loads of room, all the tech on it. 475 00:24:12,960 --> 00:24:14,280 The bed, it was electric... 476 00:24:14,280 --> 00:24:16,000 Although I have got a fridge, here. 477 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:17,400 Can I show you me fridge? 478 00:24:20,960 --> 00:24:22,720 Why have you got almond milk? 479 00:24:24,000 --> 00:24:26,280 Oh, oh, oh, not too fast! 480 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:27,800 Oh, it's cutting in on me. 481 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:29,600 That wasn't me, that. It was braking for me. 482 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:32,080 Oh, he's winged that through, hasn't he? 483 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,120 Come on. Straight, straight, straight! 484 00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:38,760 CLANG! Oh, no! 485 00:24:38,760 --> 00:24:41,600 Knocked the last one. Ohhhh! 486 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:42,840 On the left, there! 487 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,400 HORN HONKS Ho-hooo! 488 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:46,440 Two down. 489 00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:47,960 Well done, the Fiddler. 490 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:49,760 BOTH LAUGH 491 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:51,960 I am not the Fiddler. I'm the Admiral. 492 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:53,680 And I don't want a roof neither. 493 00:24:53,680 --> 00:24:55,120 LAUGHTER 494 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:00,120 Finally, the Professor 495 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:04,360 in the world's most powerful truck. 496 00:25:04,360 --> 00:25:06,080 You're under a bit of pressure here, Paddy, 497 00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:07,200 with your 700 horsepower. 498 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:08,640 Watch the power. 499 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:10,000 OK, here we go! 500 00:25:10,000 --> 00:25:13,280 Three, two, one, go! 501 00:25:14,520 --> 00:25:16,320 Phwoar! Come on! 502 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:20,560 Whoa. Ooh. 503 00:25:20,560 --> 00:25:21,840 Here we go. 504 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:24,480 CLANG! 505 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:25,520 He's clattered it. 506 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,320 I don't even know if I took one out or not. 507 00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:32,040 I literally cannot see the end of these propellers. 508 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:34,840 Oh, he's through. He's through. 509 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:36,480 He's not getting through this one. 510 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,280 He's going to panic. Oh! Jesus, where am I? 511 00:25:41,200 --> 00:25:42,960 Ho-ho! 512 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:47,000 The Scania might not be as luxurious inside, 513 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,000 but, by God, she can go. 514 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:52,120 Bosh! 515 00:25:52,120 --> 00:25:53,920 Got to have made that through. He's through there! 516 00:25:53,920 --> 00:25:55,360 He's through there. Ooh, he's through! 517 00:25:55,360 --> 00:25:57,360 Whoa...! 518 00:25:57,360 --> 00:25:58,800 Whoa! 519 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:00,040 We don't need this. 520 00:26:00,040 --> 00:26:02,440 OK. It's always a better day when he doesn't win. 521 00:26:02,440 --> 00:26:04,040 Go! Go! Go! 522 00:26:04,040 --> 00:26:06,000 Oh, I took that quick. 523 00:26:06,000 --> 00:26:07,840 CLANG! Ho-ho-ho! Hey-hey! 524 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:09,320 Oh, he's smashed that! 525 00:26:09,320 --> 00:26:11,800 Yea-ah. Yeah! 526 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:13,440 Come on, the Scania! 527 00:26:13,440 --> 00:26:15,040 Go on, son! 528 00:26:15,040 --> 00:26:16,360 HORN HONKS 529 00:26:17,480 --> 00:26:19,800 We're over. 530 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:24,240 I went for speed over precision. 531 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,400 It's an odd look seeing a man 532 00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:27,800 wearing a cheap cowboy hat, 533 00:26:27,800 --> 00:26:29,200 towing two helicopters 534 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:32,080 in the world's most powerful truck. 535 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,360 Welcome to the BBC! 536 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:38,600 Where the results were in. 537 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:39,800 Ah! 538 00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:42,080 Thank you, sir. 539 00:26:42,080 --> 00:26:43,680 Thank you. 540 00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:45,560 Christopher Harris. 541 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,520 Ooh! Two minutes, 15 seconds, 542 00:26:48,520 --> 00:26:50,200 and that's including 543 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:54,080 a 15-second penalty for three hits. Shoddy. 544 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:56,000 Freddie Flintoff... 545 00:26:56,000 --> 00:26:57,720 ...two minutes, 546 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:02,920 plus a ten-second penalty for two hits in the DAF. 547 00:27:02,920 --> 00:27:04,240 But... 548 00:27:04,240 --> 00:27:06,520 Oh, no... ...in first place, boys, 549 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:08,720 was there ever any doubt, 550 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:12,680 with the 770 horsepower of the Scania? 551 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:16,560 One minute, 47 seconds. 552 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:18,800 LOUD, COMMANDING HORN Plus a ten-second penalty 553 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:19,920 for the two hits. 554 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:22,720 Thank you, boys, giving me the big... I love that. 555 00:27:22,720 --> 00:27:24,800 That's the truckers' salute. 556 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:26,360 They recognise... 557 00:27:26,360 --> 00:27:28,000 They recognise a winner. 558 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:31,960 I've got to say, he might have been the slowest, 559 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:34,240 but Chris Harris wins for that horn. 560 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,240 Let's hear yours, Pad. 561 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:37,440 HIGH-PITCHED TOOT 562 00:27:37,440 --> 00:27:38,880 Ohhhh! No! 563 00:27:38,880 --> 00:27:40,480 LAUGHTER 564 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:42,760 700 horsepower and a little squeak! 565 00:27:42,760 --> 00:27:45,040 No! No! 566 00:27:45,040 --> 00:27:47,880 LOUD, COMMANDING HORN 567 00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:52,440 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 568 00:27:54,520 --> 00:27:57,200 You're thinking what? World Championship! 569 00:27:57,200 --> 00:27:58,400 THEY LAUGH 570 00:27:58,400 --> 00:27:59,640 Hey! 571 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:02,720 Trucking's in the blood, lads. 572 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:04,120 I was born to do it. 573 00:28:04,120 --> 00:28:06,280 That Scania V8, what a machine! 574 00:28:06,280 --> 00:28:08,880 Everywhere I went in that thing, 575 00:28:08,880 --> 00:28:11,440 truckers would come over to me like, "Respect." 576 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,880 Respect. It was a beast of a thing, that, a beast. 577 00:28:13,880 --> 00:28:15,880 I must say, I did like the comfort of the DAF. 578 00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:19,400 That was some truck. And we found your motorsport, Pad. 579 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:22,000 Helicopter transportation. 580 00:28:22,000 --> 00:28:23,600 I've found a niche, Fred. 581 00:28:23,600 --> 00:28:25,160 And I'm going to fill it. 582 00:28:25,160 --> 00:28:27,400 Can I say that on the telly? I think you just did. 583 00:28:27,400 --> 00:28:28,600 I did, yeah! 584 00:28:28,600 --> 00:28:30,800 Anyway, we'll get back to that film later in the show, 585 00:28:30,800 --> 00:28:33,600 when things get a whole lot stormier. 586 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:35,000 But now, we must move on 587 00:28:35,000 --> 00:28:37,200 to big Chrissie Harris and a very small car. 588 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:40,960 Yes, this is the Lotus Elise, 589 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:44,920 the back-to-basics British sports car that arrived in 1996 590 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,960 and has been on sale ever since. 591 00:28:46,960 --> 00:28:48,760 Until now, 592 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:50,960 because Lotus has finally killed off the Elise 593 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:55,120 and, in its place, given us something completely new. 594 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:04,040 Straight out of Norfolk comes... 595 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:05,240 ...the Emira. 596 00:29:05,240 --> 00:29:08,440 And first impressions are, 597 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:10,960 it's not what you'd call ugly. 598 00:29:13,000 --> 00:29:17,120 In fact, this two-seat, mid-engine sports car 599 00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:20,280 looks a million dollars. 600 00:29:24,160 --> 00:29:28,640 But thankfully, this Lotus doesn't cost $1 million, 601 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:31,000 or anything close. 602 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,800 The car I'm driving right now - 75 grand. 603 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:42,920 I know that's not chicken feed, 604 00:29:42,920 --> 00:29:45,480 but you tell me anything near the same price 605 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:47,480 that is anything near as good. 606 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:49,160 There isn't one! 607 00:29:49,160 --> 00:29:53,400 This is supercar looks for half the supercar price. 608 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:57,480 And it's from Norfolk. 609 00:29:57,480 --> 00:29:59,160 I love it. 610 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:04,600 And the good news doesn't end there. 611 00:30:06,200 --> 00:30:07,920 I hate the word, but look at it - 612 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:09,880 it's nice in here. It's pleasant. 613 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,360 I've got modern screens, I've got padding on the seats. 614 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:15,160 There's no water coming through the roof. 615 00:30:15,160 --> 00:30:17,400 I'm not whacking my elbow against bits of metal. 616 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,840 This is bold new territory for Lotus. 617 00:30:22,080 --> 00:30:24,720 Yes, on the road it's bigger than an Elise, 618 00:30:24,720 --> 00:30:27,120 but, frankly, there are pencil cases 619 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:28,960 that are bigger than an Elise. 620 00:30:28,960 --> 00:30:32,040 But I'm on a damp Welsh road, 621 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:33,880 and this is Lotus territory. 622 00:30:33,880 --> 00:30:37,000 This car is sublime in these conditions. 623 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:39,520 It just glides over the surface. 624 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:41,120 It breathes with the road. 625 00:30:42,240 --> 00:30:44,640 Lotus is better at making cars 626 00:30:44,640 --> 00:30:47,640 for bumpy British roads than any other sports car company. 627 00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:55,560 But it's not enough for this new Emira 628 00:30:55,560 --> 00:30:58,640 just to do the business on the road. Lotus's history, 629 00:30:58,640 --> 00:31:01,040 its very DNA, 630 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:02,480 is racing. 631 00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:03,920 And that means 632 00:31:03,920 --> 00:31:07,320 the Emira really has to do the business on the track... 633 00:31:10,840 --> 00:31:13,440 ...where at first glance you'd be forgiven 634 00:31:13,440 --> 00:31:16,120 for thinking they've missed a trick. 635 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:18,320 The engine is a supercharged V6 636 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:19,920 with about 400 horsepower. 637 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,400 ENGINE ROARS 638 00:31:27,120 --> 00:31:29,480 0-60 - four and a half seconds, 639 00:31:29,480 --> 00:31:30,840 and over 180mph. 640 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:36,080 I know. Hardly tear-your-face-off quick 641 00:31:36,080 --> 00:31:37,320 in this day and age. 642 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:41,480 The truth is, though, Lotus has never really been too obsessed 643 00:31:41,480 --> 00:31:43,960 with those big numbers. Lotus's obsession 644 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,760 has always been what makes the difference 645 00:31:46,760 --> 00:31:49,640 between a car that's good to drive 646 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:51,640 and a car that's great to drive. 647 00:31:57,320 --> 00:31:59,760 The steering is just razor-sharp. 648 00:31:59,760 --> 00:32:01,200 The front of the car follows the direction 649 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:03,600 exactly you want it to do. 650 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:07,920 Every other sports car maker now electric. 651 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,760 But Lotus has a hydraulic power steering rack purely for feel. 652 00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:14,960 Boy, does it make a difference! 653 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:17,720 The steering on this car is sublime. 654 00:32:19,240 --> 00:32:21,200 Especially as it's been paired with, 655 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,720 yes, that manual gearbox. 656 00:32:24,720 --> 00:32:27,200 Lotus's founder, Colin Chapman, 657 00:32:27,200 --> 00:32:30,240 always insisted that the gear lever be no more 658 00:32:30,240 --> 00:32:32,680 than a hand's width away from the steering wheel. 659 00:32:32,680 --> 00:32:35,800 And, look, in the Emira - perfection! 660 00:32:35,800 --> 00:32:37,720 Perfection. 661 00:32:41,720 --> 00:32:44,800 TYRES SCREECH 662 00:32:44,800 --> 00:32:47,920 HE LAUGHS 663 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:01,520 For price and power, 664 00:33:01,520 --> 00:33:03,640 this thing is bang on a Porsche Cayman rival. 665 00:33:03,640 --> 00:33:06,160 And that is some stiff competition. 666 00:33:09,440 --> 00:33:12,040 Would I really choose one of these over the Porsche? 667 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,720 Well, I think, as a road car, 668 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:16,400 the chassis is more comfortable in this. 669 00:33:16,400 --> 00:33:18,600 It's probably got it licked. 670 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,240 And it looks better to my eyes as well. 671 00:33:20,240 --> 00:33:23,640 I can make a very good argument for having one of these. 672 00:33:27,280 --> 00:33:29,560 TYRES SCREECH 673 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:36,040 The Emira, then, looks great, it goes great, 674 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,920 it costs a not insane amount of money. 675 00:33:39,920 --> 00:33:41,600 So what's the catch? 676 00:33:42,960 --> 00:33:45,560 The catch is... this all-new Lotus 677 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,600 isn't quite so all new as Lotus would have you believe. 678 00:33:48,600 --> 00:33:50,680 The engine, borrowed from Toyota - 679 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,720 basically the same as the one from the old Evora. 680 00:33:53,720 --> 00:33:55,160 Same with the gearbox. 681 00:33:55,160 --> 00:33:56,360 Under the skin, 682 00:33:56,360 --> 00:33:58,400 this is the same old Lotus formula 683 00:33:58,400 --> 00:34:01,440 wearing designer sunglasses and a fancy new scarf. 684 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:07,840 But you know what - that doesn't matter one bit. 685 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:12,200 The old Lotus formula was great. 686 00:34:14,040 --> 00:34:17,000 You don't want your local chippy pivoting towards 687 00:34:17,000 --> 00:34:19,120 Mongolian fusion cuisine, do you? 688 00:34:19,120 --> 00:34:22,000 You want an honest lump of battered cod. 689 00:34:23,360 --> 00:34:26,000 It might be an old recipe, 690 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:29,600 but it is still a classic. 691 00:34:29,600 --> 00:34:31,440 I don't need more than 400 horsepower. 692 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,920 How fast can you actually go on the road? 693 00:34:35,160 --> 00:34:37,200 You can enjoy more of a car like this... 694 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,520 ...in more places, more often. 695 00:34:40,520 --> 00:34:42,960 It's fit for Britain. 696 00:34:45,040 --> 00:34:47,560 And we need to enjoy it while we can, 697 00:34:47,560 --> 00:34:50,800 because the Emira might just be... 698 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:53,240 ...the end of an era. 699 00:34:53,240 --> 00:34:56,080 They say this is the last petrol-powered Lotus. 700 00:34:56,080 --> 00:34:58,360 From here on in, it's electric. 701 00:34:58,360 --> 00:35:01,040 I'm OK with that. Times change. 702 00:35:01,040 --> 00:35:02,960 But when it is all electric, let's not forget 703 00:35:02,960 --> 00:35:05,400 how good this car was. 704 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:08,800 I said last year 705 00:35:08,800 --> 00:35:10,520 that this was one of the cars 706 00:35:10,520 --> 00:35:13,120 I was most looking forward to driving in 2022. 707 00:35:14,440 --> 00:35:17,000 So, does it live up to expectations? 708 00:35:18,040 --> 00:35:19,480 Absolutely! 709 00:35:25,720 --> 00:35:27,920 Absolutely! 710 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:30,800 HE LAUGHS 711 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,520 CHEERING AND APPLAUSE 712 00:35:40,560 --> 00:35:43,200 Do you know, I've got to say, 713 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:46,600 for the money, that is a beautiful car. 714 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:48,520 And it gets even better. This one that I drove - 715 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:50,160 75 grand. 716 00:35:50,160 --> 00:35:52,560 Next year, there's going to be a cheaper one, 717 00:35:52,560 --> 00:35:53,960 under 60 grand, 718 00:35:53,960 --> 00:35:55,560 with a turbo-charged four-cylinder engine 719 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:57,600 from the Mercedes A 45 hot hatch. 720 00:35:57,600 --> 00:35:59,880 I cannot wait to drive that one! 721 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:01,240 My problem with Lotuses... 722 00:36:01,240 --> 00:36:03,520 I can never get in 'em. I'm too big. 723 00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:05,080 You struggled with the HGV! 724 00:36:05,080 --> 00:36:07,160 LAUGHTER 725 00:36:07,160 --> 00:36:08,280 And I'm looking at this 726 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:09,880 thinking there might be a chance. 727 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:11,840 Do you mind if I...? Slip on in, Fred. 728 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:15,120 New idea for a show here, Pad. Can Fred Fit In It? 729 00:36:15,120 --> 00:36:16,760 LAUGHTER 730 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,880 Ooh! No problem. I cannot believe it. 731 00:36:19,880 --> 00:36:21,520 I thought we were gonna have to put lard 732 00:36:21,520 --> 00:36:23,240 round the doorframes or summat like that. 733 00:36:23,240 --> 00:36:24,640 It's like a TARDIS. It is. 734 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:26,880 I tell you what this is. I want one. 735 00:36:26,880 --> 00:36:28,880 Are you enjoying it? Genuinely, I want one. 736 00:36:28,880 --> 00:36:31,360 OK. All right. Well, while Fred makes himself comfy, 737 00:36:31,360 --> 00:36:33,400 it's time to batten down the hatches 738 00:36:33,400 --> 00:36:36,400 and get back to our big HGV adventure. 739 00:36:38,400 --> 00:36:41,360 NEWS THEME MUSIC 740 00:36:41,360 --> 00:36:43,800 NEWSREADER: BBC News at ten o'clock. This is Nick Quraishi. 741 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:47,000 The Met Office has issued a rare red weather warning 742 00:36:47,000 --> 00:36:49,080 for parts of South West England and South Wales 743 00:36:49,080 --> 00:36:50,440 tomorrow morning, 744 00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:53,680 as Storm Eunice moves in from the Atlantic. 745 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:58,320 Our mighty convoy was closing in on Wales. 746 00:36:59,760 --> 00:37:01,160 Look at this, boys! 747 00:37:02,440 --> 00:37:04,840 But with our destination on the south coast 748 00:37:04,840 --> 00:37:06,440 now within easy reach, 749 00:37:06,440 --> 00:37:08,160 approaching the Severn 750 00:37:08,160 --> 00:37:10,040 we were bracing ourselves 751 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:14,200 for another of trucking's rites of passage. 752 00:37:14,200 --> 00:37:15,600 Feel it now, Chris. We're coming onto it. 753 00:37:15,600 --> 00:37:17,840 I can feel the wind. 754 00:37:17,840 --> 00:37:19,040 WIND GUSTS 755 00:37:19,040 --> 00:37:20,320 HE CHUCKLES 756 00:37:20,320 --> 00:37:21,720 HE LAUGHS 757 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:37,960 The back of your trailer's 758 00:37:37,960 --> 00:37:40,760 having a little sway there, Chris. 759 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:43,120 Even though I'm getting blown around a bit, 760 00:37:43,120 --> 00:37:44,920 the whole thing does feel very stable, though. 761 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:46,680 I don't feel I'm having to steer into it much. 762 00:37:46,680 --> 00:37:48,360 What about you? 763 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:50,360 Not even deviated off the straight, this thing. 764 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:55,440 Truth be told, 765 00:37:55,440 --> 00:37:58,080 our modern HGV masterpieces 766 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:01,080 weren't in the least bit bothered about the breeze. 767 00:38:01,080 --> 00:38:02,160 Tell you what, though, 768 00:38:02,160 --> 00:38:05,160 being this high up, the views are amazing. 769 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:08,720 But if you're starting to think 770 00:38:08,720 --> 00:38:10,600 this trucking game might be for you, 771 00:38:10,600 --> 00:38:15,320 it's worth mentioning that life isn't just about mega-machinery 772 00:38:15,320 --> 00:38:16,840 and comfy cabs. 773 00:38:19,000 --> 00:38:20,920 When you're a trucker, 774 00:38:20,920 --> 00:38:23,880 your life is ruled by the tacho. 775 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:26,320 And I'm not on about the tasty Mexican snack either. 776 00:38:26,320 --> 00:38:28,240 I'm on about this bit of kit up here. 777 00:38:28,240 --> 00:38:29,680 That's a tachograph. 778 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:33,440 And a tachograph logs all your hours behind the wheel 779 00:38:33,440 --> 00:38:35,840 to make sure you stick within the rules. 780 00:38:38,080 --> 00:38:41,960 Rules like you've got nine hours of driving every day, 781 00:38:41,960 --> 00:38:45,080 apart from twice a week, where you've got ten hours. 782 00:38:46,440 --> 00:38:49,480 Then you've got 11 hours of consecutive rest, 783 00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:51,480 apart from three times a week, 784 00:38:51,480 --> 00:38:53,120 where it can be nine hours. 785 00:38:53,120 --> 00:38:55,960 Then you've got 56 driving hours a week, 786 00:38:55,960 --> 00:38:59,080 or no more than 90 hours every two weeks. 787 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:01,920 Oh, and every four and a half hours, 788 00:39:01,920 --> 00:39:03,960 you've got to take a 45-minute break. 789 00:39:04,920 --> 00:39:07,680 And trust me, if you don't know those rules, 790 00:39:07,680 --> 00:39:10,960 they'll come down on you like a ton of Yorkies. 791 00:39:14,080 --> 00:39:16,280 Of course, you do soon become familiar 792 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:18,400 with all the rules and regs. 793 00:39:20,160 --> 00:39:23,640 You might even start to have a bit of fun. 794 00:39:25,240 --> 00:39:29,320 OK, I'm coming past, Frederick. I'm coming past. 795 00:39:29,320 --> 00:39:31,080 Oh, he's making a move. Go on, Chris, 796 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:32,600 I'll flash you in, Chris. 797 00:39:32,600 --> 00:39:35,400 Not yet, not yet. Double flash, please. 798 00:39:36,440 --> 00:39:38,440 In you come. In you come. 799 00:39:40,440 --> 00:39:44,280 Tell you what, boys, we are making such good time, 800 00:39:44,280 --> 00:39:46,160 I think we might need to head off 801 00:39:46,160 --> 00:39:48,760 and find some proper, open trucking roads. 802 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:50,000 What do you reckon? 803 00:39:50,000 --> 00:39:51,240 Well up for that. 804 00:39:55,720 --> 00:39:59,160 But in the world of trucking, 805 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:02,160 it turns out nothing is straightforward... 806 00:40:04,040 --> 00:40:07,480 ...least of all when you leave the motorway behind. 807 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:11,960 Remember I told you 808 00:40:11,960 --> 00:40:14,480 we were gonna find some nice open roads? 809 00:40:14,480 --> 00:40:16,000 I'm not sure this is 810 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,640 what I had in mind, Chris, to be honest. 811 00:40:18,640 --> 00:40:20,160 This is tight! 812 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:22,720 This is where I really admire seasoned truckers. 813 00:40:22,720 --> 00:40:25,960 The way they navigate these small towns is very impressive. 814 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:29,640 You're testing our skills here, Christopher. 815 00:40:29,640 --> 00:40:32,640 I feel like I'm on a constant hazard perception test. 816 00:40:42,000 --> 00:40:45,080 That right-hander is hideous. Be careful. 817 00:40:45,080 --> 00:40:48,280 Nice and wide, Paddy, lad. Nice and wide. 818 00:40:54,000 --> 00:40:55,200 BYSTANDER: Go on, Paddy! 819 00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:02,240 Driving through Abergavenny there, 820 00:41:02,240 --> 00:41:05,000 if I'd have done that in a car, I'd have swore blind 821 00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:07,960 you'd have never have got an HGV through there. 822 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,400 I mean, it is a bit tight, don't get me wrong, 823 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:15,600 but it's amazing the roads you can get along and through - 824 00:41:15,600 --> 00:41:17,960 providing everyone moves out of the way. 825 00:41:17,960 --> 00:41:22,240 Which, of course, you soon find they often don't. 826 00:41:23,440 --> 00:41:25,440 Bit of a div parked his Kia right here 827 00:41:25,440 --> 00:41:26,640 on a double yellow. 828 00:41:27,760 --> 00:41:28,920 Where? 829 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:33,000 Bloomin' heck, it's tight round here. 830 00:41:41,760 --> 00:41:44,200 Watch this little white car coming towards you an' all. 831 00:41:44,200 --> 00:41:46,200 This is actually one of the advantages 832 00:41:46,200 --> 00:41:47,440 of being at the back. 833 00:41:47,440 --> 00:41:50,560 Jeez, that was tight. That wasn't fun there. 834 00:41:50,560 --> 00:41:52,560 That was tense. 835 00:41:55,800 --> 00:41:59,600 But stick with the trucking game long enough, 836 00:41:59,600 --> 00:42:04,520 and every now and again you'll discover a little bit of magic. 837 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:10,160 Wales is beautiful. Look at those hills. 838 00:42:15,640 --> 00:42:19,000 I've got to say, this is proper. 839 00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:26,800 Welsh hills, sunshine's out, 840 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:29,880 and I've got over 600 horsepower. 841 00:42:29,880 --> 00:42:31,400 What a recipe! 842 00:42:35,760 --> 00:42:38,040 Genuinely strange, coming on all the roads that I've used 843 00:42:38,040 --> 00:42:41,320 for 20 years to test supercars...in a truck. 844 00:42:41,320 --> 00:42:42,480 It's really quite pleasant. 845 00:42:43,640 --> 00:42:46,320 What a machine this is! 846 00:42:46,320 --> 00:42:49,120 The DAF is loving it. Absolutely loving it. 847 00:42:49,120 --> 00:42:50,800 Just skipping up the hills. 848 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:53,600 Tell you what, boys, 849 00:42:53,600 --> 00:42:55,040 when we did the time trial before, 850 00:42:55,040 --> 00:42:57,080 with the old helicopters on the back, 851 00:42:57,080 --> 00:42:59,040 and you started having a go at me about me horn, 852 00:42:59,040 --> 00:43:00,600 well, I've found a little button 853 00:43:00,600 --> 00:43:05,840 in the Scania cab which turns the average horn 854 00:43:05,840 --> 00:43:08,240 into a super-horn. Do you want to have a little listen? 855 00:43:08,240 --> 00:43:09,560 Fire away. 856 00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:13,920 HORN BLARES 857 00:43:15,960 --> 00:43:17,600 Lovely stuff. 858 00:43:23,080 --> 00:43:25,320 It is stunning, though. What a day to see it. 859 00:43:25,320 --> 00:43:27,000 I know there's a bit of wind knocking about 860 00:43:27,000 --> 00:43:28,960 but the sun's out. Beautiful. 861 00:43:30,160 --> 00:43:31,760 It really was. 862 00:43:33,240 --> 00:43:35,680 But as we climbed higher into the Brecon Beacons, 863 00:43:35,680 --> 00:43:39,200 that "bit of wind knocking about" 864 00:43:39,200 --> 00:43:41,600 was definitely getting stronger. 865 00:43:43,120 --> 00:43:44,320 WIND GUSTS 866 00:43:44,320 --> 00:43:46,600 Oh, it's blowing now! 867 00:43:47,840 --> 00:43:50,600 Ho-ho, dear me! 868 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,120 Having to concentrate a bit harder now, aren't we? 869 00:43:54,160 --> 00:43:56,360 They are amazing bits of engineering. 870 00:43:57,680 --> 00:43:59,240 I know we're saying it's tough, 871 00:43:59,240 --> 00:44:02,080 but just twirling a wheel, foot on the brake, 872 00:44:02,080 --> 00:44:03,520 the vehicle does the rest. 873 00:44:03,520 --> 00:44:06,080 Just incredible bits of engineering. 874 00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:08,960 Although on a narrow, winding road, 875 00:44:08,960 --> 00:44:12,360 in increasingly blustery conditions, 876 00:44:12,360 --> 00:44:15,720 things soon become less incredible when one of those 877 00:44:15,720 --> 00:44:20,720 "bits of engineering" comes the other way. 878 00:44:20,720 --> 00:44:21,640 BLEEP! 879 00:44:23,200 --> 00:44:24,280 Whoa! 880 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:28,680 That was horrible. Did you see that? 881 00:44:28,680 --> 00:44:31,000 Literally that come from nowhere. 882 00:44:31,000 --> 00:44:32,520 That was a close one, that. 883 00:44:34,200 --> 00:44:36,840 And it was just another timely reminder 884 00:44:36,840 --> 00:44:41,680 of what truck driving is really all about. 885 00:44:44,560 --> 00:44:46,880 So much responsibility in driving one of these. 886 00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:51,040 You've got to be on it all the time. 887 00:44:51,040 --> 00:44:52,360 And you think about that 888 00:44:52,360 --> 00:44:54,520 day after day after day after day. 889 00:44:57,120 --> 00:44:58,560 This is hard graft. 890 00:44:59,920 --> 00:45:02,840 Truckers watching this, they'll know what I'm on about. 891 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:05,000 I'm not sure I've got it in me, to be honest. 892 00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:12,560 With the day drawing in and the weather deteriorating, 893 00:45:12,560 --> 00:45:13,800 it was time to leave 894 00:45:13,800 --> 00:45:15,200 the scenic detour behind. 895 00:45:16,680 --> 00:45:19,080 The priority now was to get as close 896 00:45:19,080 --> 00:45:21,520 to our final destination as we could... 897 00:45:23,120 --> 00:45:24,520 ..before this. 898 00:45:26,480 --> 00:45:28,240 NEWSREADER: Storm Eunice hits the UK, 899 00:45:28,240 --> 00:45:31,080 with powerful winds causing injury, damage and destruction. 900 00:45:31,080 --> 00:45:33,040 Oh, my God! 901 00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:36,040 For what's thought to be the first time ever, 902 00:45:36,040 --> 00:45:38,320 both bridges here across the Severn Estuary have closed 903 00:45:38,320 --> 00:45:39,800 because of the high winds. 904 00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:46,480 Storm Eunice had been giving Britain a bashing. 905 00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:51,600 And once the worst had passed, 906 00:45:51,600 --> 00:45:55,600 how grateful we were to reach the end of the road. 907 00:45:57,680 --> 00:46:04,440 Oh, there she is. Pembrey Circuit. We made it, boys. 908 00:46:04,440 --> 00:46:06,960 I've had easier drives than that in me life. 909 00:46:09,640 --> 00:46:14,040 A lot of sympathy for HGV drivers in these conditions. It's horrible. 910 00:46:16,760 --> 00:46:19,000 But we weren't done yet, 911 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:21,440 because we had finally pulled up 912 00:46:21,440 --> 00:46:24,040 at the home of Welsh motorsport, 913 00:46:24,040 --> 00:46:28,000 where it turned out, all this time, 914 00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:31,760 we'd been hauling everything we needed to go... 915 00:46:31,760 --> 00:46:33,400 ...truck racing. 916 00:46:34,920 --> 00:46:37,480 With over 1,000 horsepower, 917 00:46:37,480 --> 00:46:41,120 ten times the torque of your average supercar, 918 00:46:41,120 --> 00:46:42,360 all reined in by enormous, 919 00:46:42,360 --> 00:46:44,760 steam-billowing, water-cooled brakes, 920 00:46:44,760 --> 00:46:47,040 these five-tonne, 921 00:46:47,040 --> 00:46:50,440 rear-wheel-drive, custom-built monsters 922 00:46:50,440 --> 00:46:53,080 are not for the faint of heart. 923 00:46:55,160 --> 00:46:59,440 A typical race sees grids of up to 20 trucks 924 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:02,120 doing battle at speeds of 100mph. 925 00:47:04,520 --> 00:47:06,240 And because on an unfamiliar track during 926 00:47:06,240 --> 00:47:08,160 an extreme weather event, 927 00:47:08,160 --> 00:47:10,360 diving straight into this kind of action 928 00:47:10,360 --> 00:47:12,840 would be just plain stupid... 929 00:47:12,840 --> 00:47:15,440 What a lovely day for a truck race! 930 00:47:17,360 --> 00:47:19,200 ...before giving it a go ourselves, 931 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:21,360 we'd generously been given a couple of laps 932 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:23,600 to get to grips... 933 00:47:23,600 --> 00:47:26,120 ...with our new rigs. 934 00:47:26,120 --> 00:47:27,520 These things are huge. 935 00:47:27,520 --> 00:47:29,480 Tell you what, though, it's exciting. 936 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:32,720 Here we go. 937 00:47:38,520 --> 00:47:41,040 Pad, Pad, Pad, no, Pad! 938 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:44,280 CRASH! 939 00:47:44,280 --> 00:47:45,360 Ohhh! 940 00:47:45,360 --> 00:47:46,720 BLEEP! 941 00:47:48,600 --> 00:47:52,280 These racing trucks are tough old birds. 942 00:47:52,280 --> 00:47:54,080 And with no harm done... 943 00:47:54,080 --> 00:47:55,840 ...apart from that bit, 944 00:47:55,840 --> 00:47:59,080 back at the pits, it was just a case of waiting 945 00:47:59,080 --> 00:48:03,320 for Eunice to pepper the track with a hailstorm, 946 00:48:03,320 --> 00:48:06,480 and then, apparently, it was time to go racing. 947 00:48:09,720 --> 00:48:12,520 Here we go, little bit of damp on the road. 948 00:48:13,760 --> 00:48:15,840 Practise, don't you, in the dry, 949 00:48:15,840 --> 00:48:18,680 then it's hailstones and we're in the damp. 950 00:48:18,680 --> 00:48:20,960 Oh, and just for good measure, 951 00:48:20,960 --> 00:48:24,480 we'd be starting from the front of the grid. 952 00:48:24,480 --> 00:48:25,560 Got to be honest, I... 953 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:27,800 ...I'd have sooner have been at the back of the grid. 954 00:48:27,800 --> 00:48:31,560 Now I've got the cast of Convoy hurtling past me. 955 00:48:33,160 --> 00:48:36,640 Yes, truck racing traditionally plays out 956 00:48:36,640 --> 00:48:38,240 in 15-minute bouts, 957 00:48:38,240 --> 00:48:41,600 often using a reverse grid system. 958 00:48:43,160 --> 00:48:45,240 Putting the slowest drivers at the front 959 00:48:45,240 --> 00:48:46,680 is a good way to ensure 960 00:48:46,680 --> 00:48:50,240 lots of high-octane action. 961 00:48:50,240 --> 00:48:52,080 Never thought I'd do a formation lap behind 962 00:48:52,080 --> 00:48:54,160 Flintoff and McGuinness. 963 00:48:54,160 --> 00:48:56,840 Putting us lot at the front, 964 00:48:56,840 --> 00:48:59,240 on the other hand, is madness. 965 00:48:59,240 --> 00:49:01,920 Paddy, what you doing? 966 00:49:01,920 --> 00:49:03,520 Formation, Pad. 967 00:49:03,520 --> 00:49:05,360 Fred needs to get by the side of him. 968 00:49:05,360 --> 00:49:07,560 What is Paddy doing? 969 00:49:07,560 --> 00:49:09,920 This is the only time I'll be at the front. 970 00:49:09,920 --> 00:49:11,560 So, I'm just enjoying it! 971 00:49:13,680 --> 00:49:15,880 Here we go, lead car's pulling out. 972 00:49:17,160 --> 00:49:18,160 Let's go. 973 00:49:19,960 --> 00:49:21,200 Come on! 974 00:49:27,120 --> 00:49:29,640 Ohhh, I'm all over the bloody shop. 975 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:36,000 Blooming heck, he's muscled me out already, Pad. 976 00:49:37,640 --> 00:49:39,720 Let's try and get away from him. 977 00:49:43,120 --> 00:49:45,120 This is sketchy. 978 00:49:46,520 --> 00:49:47,800 I'll tell you what, 979 00:49:47,800 --> 00:49:49,640 it's completely different in the wet. 980 00:49:49,640 --> 00:49:51,560 Slow down. 981 00:49:51,560 --> 00:49:53,720 Into the hairpin. 982 00:49:57,320 --> 00:49:59,320 Whoooo-ho-ho! 983 00:50:00,960 --> 00:50:02,280 Lost it. 984 00:50:05,080 --> 00:50:07,640 Oh, Paddy's off again. 985 00:50:07,640 --> 00:50:08,720 Can I get back out? 986 00:50:08,720 --> 00:50:10,960 Oh, no! 987 00:50:10,960 --> 00:50:13,760 No. Come on! 988 00:50:13,760 --> 00:50:16,520 Paddy McGuinness is off. 989 00:50:16,520 --> 00:50:20,680 Oh, absolutely devastated! 990 00:50:22,160 --> 00:50:25,040 Just one minute into our 15-minute race... 991 00:50:25,040 --> 00:50:26,720 It's a red flag. 992 00:50:26,720 --> 00:50:28,800 It's a red flag! 993 00:50:28,800 --> 00:50:31,080 ...we'd all been told 994 00:50:31,080 --> 00:50:32,480 to stop. 995 00:50:33,600 --> 00:50:36,040 And while McGuinness's truck was recovered to safety, 996 00:50:36,040 --> 00:50:37,960 we headed back to the grid, 997 00:50:37,960 --> 00:50:39,440 ready to restart 998 00:50:39,440 --> 00:50:44,080 from where we were sitting when the race was red-flagged. 999 00:50:44,080 --> 00:50:47,760 That meant Harris was up front, I was in fourth, 1000 00:50:47,760 --> 00:50:51,320 and McGuinness would be at the back. 1001 00:50:51,320 --> 00:50:52,640 And I've got to be honest, 1002 00:50:52,640 --> 00:50:56,840 it feels nicer here. It feels a lot nicer. 1003 00:51:03,920 --> 00:51:07,440 Here we go. And we're away again. 1004 00:51:09,680 --> 00:51:11,720 So we now appear to be in P-1, 1005 00:51:11,720 --> 00:51:13,080 which in my experience 1006 00:51:13,080 --> 00:51:14,960 is exactly where you don't want to be for 1007 00:51:14,960 --> 00:51:18,000 a restart, cos you've just got a massive target on your back. 1008 00:51:19,240 --> 00:51:22,080 With 14 minutes left to survive... 1009 00:51:22,080 --> 00:51:23,080 Get your wipers on, 1010 00:51:23,080 --> 00:51:24,400 it's starting to rain. 1011 00:51:24,400 --> 00:51:29,160 ...it was time to go racing again. 1012 00:51:32,440 --> 00:51:35,120 Bloody hell. I say it's better at the back, 1013 00:51:35,120 --> 00:51:37,040 but it actually feels worse. 1014 00:51:37,040 --> 00:51:38,520 Cor blimey, 1015 00:51:38,520 --> 00:51:40,160 look at the congestion here. 1016 00:51:40,160 --> 00:51:41,960 Go, go, go, go, go. 1017 00:51:45,040 --> 00:51:46,640 Dear me. 1018 00:51:46,640 --> 00:51:48,840 I've got someone right up my chuff now. 1019 00:51:51,200 --> 00:51:53,160 Oh, I went wide. 1020 00:51:53,160 --> 00:51:56,760 Oh, there's one coming up the inside there, he's got me. 1021 00:51:58,840 --> 00:52:01,000 Get the windscreens on, get the windscreens on. 1022 00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:03,480 I can barely see. 1023 00:52:05,480 --> 00:52:07,560 Ohh, got it back. 1024 00:52:07,560 --> 00:52:09,400 My word. 1025 00:52:11,240 --> 00:52:14,040 He's coming for me, he's coming for me. 1026 00:52:16,280 --> 00:52:18,120 I've got to cover that inside line. 1027 00:52:19,760 --> 00:52:22,000 This is tricky. 1028 00:52:23,400 --> 00:52:25,840 Jeez, come on, keep going. 1029 00:52:25,840 --> 00:52:28,920 Yes, Fred, that's better. 1030 00:52:28,920 --> 00:52:30,920 Not too fast round here. No, no, stay on. 1031 00:52:34,600 --> 00:52:36,840 As the minutes ticked away, 1032 00:52:36,840 --> 00:52:39,880 the midfield were gradually picking me off. 1033 00:52:39,880 --> 00:52:42,320 Going up me inside. 1034 00:52:42,320 --> 00:52:43,720 Keep going, Fred. 1035 00:52:43,720 --> 00:52:47,160 And it's safe to say me and McGuinness were really 1036 00:52:47,160 --> 00:52:50,400 just trying to bring our 150-grand racing rigs 1037 00:52:50,400 --> 00:52:52,400 back in one piece. 1038 00:52:53,480 --> 00:52:57,280 The windscreen wipers have gone. I can't see. 1039 00:52:58,920 --> 00:53:00,560 My word! 1040 00:53:00,560 --> 00:53:03,440 But up at the front, 1041 00:53:03,440 --> 00:53:07,600 Harris had spent most of his first-ever truck race 1042 00:53:07,600 --> 00:53:08,720 in the lead. 1043 00:53:08,720 --> 00:53:10,200 Come on! 1044 00:53:11,560 --> 00:53:13,840 And now, with just a few minutes left 1045 00:53:13,840 --> 00:53:15,600 to the chequered flag, 1046 00:53:15,600 --> 00:53:19,560 the fight for the podium was on. 1047 00:53:22,760 --> 00:53:25,000 Sliding everywhere now. 1048 00:53:25,000 --> 00:53:28,480 They've got a surprising amount of grip, 1049 00:53:28,480 --> 00:53:29,760 but if ever the grip goes away, 1050 00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:31,600 it's catastrophic. 1051 00:53:33,880 --> 00:53:35,520 No, no, no, no, no, 1052 00:53:35,520 --> 00:53:37,840 not this time. No, no, no, come on. 1053 00:53:37,840 --> 00:53:40,360 Get it back, get it back, get it back. 1054 00:53:40,360 --> 00:53:42,600 Get it back. Yes, yes, 1055 00:53:42,600 --> 00:53:45,800 yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. 1056 00:53:45,800 --> 00:53:47,920 Ohhh. Got it back. 1057 00:53:50,320 --> 00:53:52,360 Come on, old girl. 1058 00:53:53,960 --> 00:53:56,320 This big fella's coming through. 1059 00:53:56,320 --> 00:53:58,520 Come on! 1060 00:54:05,520 --> 00:54:07,320 Oh, a bit of a lock-up. 1061 00:54:07,320 --> 00:54:09,840 BLEEP! I let him through. 1062 00:54:16,160 --> 00:54:17,360 Whoa. 1063 00:54:17,360 --> 00:54:20,120 Didn't really think that was gonna happen. 1064 00:54:20,120 --> 00:54:21,480 Got thumped out the way. 1065 00:54:23,760 --> 00:54:25,880 Come on, keep going, keep working. 1066 00:54:27,680 --> 00:54:29,480 I can stay with them, but I can't catch them. 1067 00:54:34,840 --> 00:54:36,240 Bit of oversteer there. 1068 00:54:42,360 --> 00:54:45,160 P-3. I'll take that. 1069 00:54:46,160 --> 00:54:47,720 I'll take that. 1070 00:54:47,720 --> 00:54:51,000 Wow. Wonder where the others are. 1071 00:54:53,600 --> 00:54:55,160 There we go. 1072 00:54:56,920 --> 00:54:59,080 Tell you what, 1073 00:54:59,080 --> 00:55:01,280 concentrated so hard, jeez! 1074 00:55:05,840 --> 00:55:08,840 Woooo! 1075 00:55:08,840 --> 00:55:09,960 Wow, that was sketchy. 1076 00:55:09,960 --> 00:55:11,600 That... 1077 00:55:15,680 --> 00:55:18,120 ...was trucking. 1078 00:55:19,280 --> 00:55:21,320 CHEERING 1079 00:55:24,920 --> 00:55:26,120 That was intense. 1080 00:55:26,120 --> 00:55:27,360 That was intense. It was, it was. 1081 00:55:27,360 --> 00:55:29,640 But, congratulations, Chris Harris, 1082 00:55:29,640 --> 00:55:32,720 a podium on your very first outing! 1083 00:55:32,720 --> 00:55:34,160 Go on, Chrissie! 1084 00:55:34,160 --> 00:55:35,400 CHEERING 1085 00:55:37,960 --> 00:55:39,440 They were not messing about. 1086 00:55:39,440 --> 00:55:41,480 I had many more love taps than I expected. 1087 00:55:41,480 --> 00:55:43,520 They were, they were aggressive. They really were. 1088 00:55:43,520 --> 00:55:45,520 So we set out to learn more about the trucking life. 1089 00:55:45,520 --> 00:55:48,560 We certainly did that. We got the full experience, 1090 00:55:48,560 --> 00:55:50,680 all the highs and all the lows. 1091 00:55:50,680 --> 00:55:52,640 We did indeed, and when everything's going well, 1092 00:55:52,640 --> 00:55:54,400 trucking's great. You're king of the road. 1093 00:55:54,400 --> 00:55:57,360 But as soon as the weather turns, it's a different story. 1094 00:55:57,360 --> 00:55:58,520 Oh, the wind. 1095 00:55:58,520 --> 00:56:00,200 Yeah, the wind, yeah. 1096 00:56:00,200 --> 00:56:02,160 Jeez. And it has changed how I see trucks on the road. 1097 00:56:02,160 --> 00:56:05,400 Now, every time I see one, I think, "Big respect." 1098 00:56:05,400 --> 00:56:06,760 Absolutely. 1099 00:56:06,760 --> 00:56:08,600 Yeah, hats off to the truckers, that is a tough job. 1100 00:56:08,600 --> 00:56:10,400 It is indeed, and if anyone wants 1101 00:56:10,400 --> 00:56:13,200 a couple of disused military helicopters shifting, 1102 00:56:13,200 --> 00:56:15,240 give us a call! That's it for tonight. 1103 00:56:15,240 --> 00:56:17,400 We'll be back next week, when Chris drives 1104 00:56:17,400 --> 00:56:18,520 a very fast Maserati, 1105 00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:21,160 Fred drives a very futuristic pick-up truck, 1106 00:56:21,160 --> 00:56:24,280 and I drive a cheap old Honda Civic. 1107 00:56:24,280 --> 00:56:25,760 Living the dream. 1108 00:56:25,760 --> 00:56:27,960 Thanks so much for watching. See you, then, goodnight. 1109 00:56:27,960 --> 00:56:30,840 CHEERING