"British Racing Star Unveils Ambitious Top Gear Remake Plans, Inspired by Jim Clark"

BRITS could soon be watching a Top Gear-style TV show again, thanks to Formula E star Dan Ticktum.

The iconic series aired its last episode in 2022 following an accident involving Freddie Flintoff, though some would argue the programme truly stopped when , and quit presenting in 2015.

Formula E star Dan Ticktum has revealed plans to star in a Top Gear-style TV show Credit: Jason Vian Ticktum says he wants the show to continue the legacy of Top Gear Credit: Getty

However, speaking exclusively to SunSport at the launch of Ticktum is looking to revive the iconic programme, though admits many hurdles need to be overcome first.

The 26-year-old said: “I’m trying to start a TV show at the moment. I filmed a pilot for that last November.

“I’ve got a meeting with somebody lined up who’s pretty big in that world – I can’t say who, but everyone will know his name.

“It’s just trying to continue the legacy of , really, which obviously is a very hard thing to do.

“But I feel like the trio I’ve got, we have very similar camaraderie, banter, and we all love cars.

“We’re not going to be particularly woke. We’re not going to just airdrop someone in from because they’re famous.

“You know, we’re just three normal guys who love cars, and that’s what people loved about Top Gear.

“Everyone who’s tried to come since has neglected that. We’ll see if this fella is interested in the concept. Hopefully he will be, and then we’ll see where that goes.”

Ticktum has raced in since 2021, following time as a Red Bull and Williams Test driver.

Results with his team, Cupra Kiro, have improved in the most recent races after some rotten luck that caused three retirements in a row to start the season, and Ticktum believes a podium is not far off after finishing fourth in the Madrid E-Prix last time out.

However, the stylish Londoner – who is almost out of the playbook in terms of his varied interests off track – admits his passion for racing probably isn’t what it once was.

Ticktum’s situation isn’t helped by him not yet nailing down a seat for next season, and while he insists it remains business as usual behind the wheel, he has also been left “not terribly happy” with some treatment contractually.

He said: “There’s some things that I’m not terribly happy with in terms of how I’ve been treated contractually, but there’s also plenty of positives like the team themselves, the people, the environment, the package we now have, which is a strong one.

“Nothing’s ever perfect. I think it’s likely I’ll remain with the team next year. I’m hoping to, like I say, I enjoy it. If I can be in an environment where I’m happy and enjoying it, then great.”

No matter what the future holds, Ticktum suggests he will be in some kind of motorsport racing, hinting at following the examples set by British racing icon Jim Clark, or more recently, , by trying other series.

Ticktum says he would jump at the chance to race a Hypercar and have a shot at a Le Mans title, while the British Touring Car Championship is also on his radar despite turning down a chance to race in the series this year.

Ticktum revealed how he wants to try and emulate the likes of Jim Clark by racing in other motorsports Credit: Getty Ticktum was speaking to SunSport at the launch of the new Formula E Gen4 car Credit: LAT Images

To that end, Ticktum is really keen to get behind the wheel of the Gen4, Formula E’s latest generation of car, which can now rival for raw pace.

While he reckons he would have chosen a different car livery to the one used for the demonstration at Paul Ricard on Tuesday, he is excited about the huge step up the series is making in terms of performance – which includes new top speeds of 210mph and almost double the power of the current Gen3 cars Formula E races in currently.

He said: “Having a single-seater that’s four-wheel drive with 800 horsepower is pretty unique. I don’t know how many four-wheel drive single-seater cars there’s ever been. Probably very few, certainly at this level.

“It’s pretty cool. I’m looking forward to it. Obviously, a few of the factory drivers have driven it, I haven’t yet, but hoping to soon.”

Like he said in his own words, not everything is perfect, and the main drawback of the Gen4 is weight, tipping the scales at a whopping minimum of 954kg.

But Ticktum says that when he previously spoke to CEO Jeff Dodds about the next gen, his one request was to make it look good, and that has been fulfilled.

He continued: “I did see some very early renderings with Jeff and I said, ‘Obviously, you know, performance and everything is important, but it just needs to look good. Like, just whatever you can do, make it look good.’

“And I think they’ve done a pretty good job of that…

“I’m not going to be the person, you know, like other drivers or people to say, ‘Everything is perfect’, because, you know, it never is.

“It’s a bit heavy, if we’re being brutally honest, you know, it’s 160 kilos odd heavier than the Gen3.

“But I feel like it makes up for that in lots of other ways. From what I’ve heard from the drivers, you feel that weight a little bit in the slow-speed corners. But it’s got a load more power. Apparently, the tyre is good as well.

“I’m already looking forward to Gen 4.5, where it’s rumoured we might be on slicks. I wish we were on slicks now, to be honest. But we’ll see if that ever happens.”