Brace yourself - the boys are back

Over 350,000 fans world wide will see the show. Photo / Norrie Montgomery

With New Zealanders being arguably the most passionate Top Gear fans in the world, it is hardly surprising that they've gone the extra distance and created their own miniature version of the Top Gear Test Track, where our own local stars can challenge the leader-board in a reasonably priced car.

In fact when Top Gear Live comes to town February 18-21, the entire Auckland ASB Showgrounds arena will be transformed into a fully fledged Motoring Festival with a live theatre show featuring Jeremy Clarkson, James May, the Stig and legendary V8 Supercar driver Greg Murphy. There'll also be a showcase of fabulous and exotic cars and an outdoor track where car marques, stunt drivers and celebrities will go helmet to helmet in a bid to reign supreme.

The Toshiba Track has been built from scratch and Murphy has had a big say in the design. It will host pursuit-style time trials; amazing demos of precision driving, classic muscle cars, old school rally cars, drift cars, celebrity challenges, as well as exclusive sports car demo.

The track runs as part of the Top Gear Live Motoring Festival, a new addition to the Top Gear Live format and unique to New Zealand.

"This track is going to be fantastic. The calibre of drivers, cars and entertainment is going to really impress our most die-hard fans - there's sure to be something to inspire every motoring enthusiast. The Toshiba Track is the logical extension of the new Top Gear Live Theatre Show - look out Auckland," said event manager Rob Eliott.

Top Gear Live includes a high impact theatre show and the record breaking Top Gear Live stunt driving team, led by Paul Swift and Terry Grant.

Expect an edge-of-your-seat experience with flaming rally cars, extreme underground street racers, cars which change colour, amazing stunts like the world's first indoor loop-the-loop, the ever popular Cool Wall, pyrotechnics and enough humour and breath-taking car antics to satisfy even the hardest motoring fan.

New to the format is the Top Gear Live Festival featuring the Toshiba Track, Stunt School, Marque Park and luxury car exhibition as well as the national Top Gear Live Convoy.

The Top Gear Live 2009/2010 world tour kicked off at London's Earl Court in November last year and after stopping off in Sydney, will hit our shores.

The audience has seen Ford Focus RS' changing colour before their very eyes, constantly burning rally cars, the world's largest interactive game, the world's first indoor loop-the-loop, the Stig leading a troupe of world record breaking precision drivers.

"Our team of world class engineers and special effects designers have combined to create some incredible cars that are about as far from road legal as you could imagine," said Rowland French, executive producer of Top Gear Live.

"There's some truly ground-breaking machinery that will keep people on the edge of their seats."

Over 350,000 fans world wide will get to see the all-new 2009/2010 show and it'll take one 747 cargo plane, three ships and 135 trucks to haul all the kit to New Zealand. No wonder, when that kit includes almost 100 cars, 600 sets of tyres and enough petrol to raze a small country.

Tickets are running out fast so New Zealand fans should book now at www.topgearlive.co.nz or through Ticketek.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE

THEATRE SHOW
You'll feel like you've stumbled onto a movie set as we surround you with special effects, smashes, crashes and customised cars, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Greg Murphy and James May AKA Captain Slow.

CARMAGEDDON
You know what a car is and you know what a game show is, right? Imagine if the same people who sailed to France in a Hilux and converted a Mercedes into a mobile cottage decided to put those two things together.

STIG WATCH
The infamous Stig will be leading our stunt drivers via a mix of hand gestures, sonic pulses and Morse code to bring you the ultimate in driving precision.

CHAMELEON MAGIC
So we're told, the TGL engineeronauts have found a way of making a car change colour. We don't know how - but this is no ordinary car in the first place; it's the new Ford Focus RS.

COOL WALL
Cruel Wall - that's the nickname some Hammond fans describe one of the most popular features from the TV show - The Cool Wall. It's been one of Clarkson's favourite ways of being heightist; deliberately sticking cars he rates as cool out of Richard's reach.

THOUGHTS
TGL guests will also have the chance to see the world's first indoor Loop the Loop, and listen to Lord Clarkson's recession-proof motoring solutions using items found around the house.

TOP GEAR LIVE TOSHIBA TRACK
The three-day timetable is packed with time trials and demonstrations, muscle cars, old school rally cars, celebrity challenges and sports car demos.

PRESTIGE AND PERFORMANCE SHOW
The latest releases and most spectacular vehicles and accessories on the market.

THE MARQUE PARK
Multi-million dollar cars - classics, race cars, ultra modern - and you can get up close and personal with them.

TOP GEAR LIVE BACK STAGE TOUR
This extra ticket (Top Gear Live Back Stage Tour tickets are $20.00 from Ticketek) allows you to tour at the end of the show. The back stage pass will also give holders the opportunity to meet with the stunt team and drivers.

SHOW INFORMATION

Dates: 18-21 February 2010. NB: The Motoring Festival runs from 19-21 February. Venue: ASB Showgrounds, 217 Greenlane West, Greenlane, Auckland

TICKET PRICES
All tickets via Ticketek. The following tickets offer access to the Festival (including the Toshiba Track), The Performance and Prestige Motor Show and one session in the Live Theatre.

TICKET TYPES:
A Reserve $75 - $95
Premium $125 - $135
Diamond $150 - $160

Ticket price is determined by session time and your seating position in the Live Theatre. See Book Tickets section at www.topgearlive.co.nz or 0800 TICKETEK for more details. New seats have just been released for all sessions.