2002
2002 was a calendar year; the 2nd year of the 21st Century and the 3rd year of the 2000s. In Roman numerals, it is known as MMII.
The following article contains dates of important events, premieres and real-world occurrences which happened during 2002, as well as serving as a hub page for various automotive journalism outlets.
Year in Review
2002 saw a significant shake-up in the world of televised automotive journalism, as long-running BBC programme Top Gear was cancelled[1] the previous August, with its final episodes airing in December before a concluding awards special aired in February, presented solely by Jason Barlow. Fifth Gear would then subsequently air[2] on Channel 5 starting from April, replacing the network's earlier car-themed programme, with former Top Gear hosts Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Quentin Willson and Adrian Simpson. The UKTV network, who had aired Top Gear GTi on its channel UK Horizons since 1997, would cease production on the programme, leaving its star host Steve Berry out of a job. The programme would continue to air until July 2003[3] in the form of re-runs.
Probably the biggest headline throughout all of 2002 was perennial Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson returning[4] to the programme following his earlier 1999 departure. It would premiere in October of that year in a revised hour-long, widescreen format with Clarkson starring alongside new co-hosts Jason Dawe and Richard Hammond, the latter being poached from Granada Television's Men & Motors TV channel. Hammond joining Top Gear meant this channel would largely cease production on its automotive journalism-themed programming such as Motor Week and 4 Wheels Good, where Hammond was a prominent host alongside the likes of Top Gear veteran Chris Goffey and one-time Top Gear host Brendan Coogan.
On Channel 4, the much-maligned Driven would also cease production that December, with host and British Touring Car champion Jason Plato eventually joining Fifth Gear.
