Top Gear (2002 TV series)/Series 1/Power Lap times

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This page is a full, comprehensive list of all cars driven around the Top Gear Test Track during Series 1 of Top Gear. Unless stated otherwise, all laps were driven by The Stig. Please note that most of these times are as they were shown on-screen during Series 1 of Top Gear, and were later "corrected" to include tenths starting from the second series. This resulted in some cars trading positions, and others even setting completely different lap times.

Officially recognised lap times[edit | edit source]

Lap times which were added to the first iteration of the Power Lap time board used until Series 2, Episode 4.

Position Car Year Time Track Conditions Episode
1 Radical SR3 2002 1:19.1[1] Moist Series 1, Episode 9
2 Westfield XTR2 2002 1:22.6 Dry Series 1, Episode 3
3 Pagani Zonda 2002 1:23.0 Moist[2] Series 1, Episode 1
4 MTM Bimoto 2002 1:28.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 10
5 Lamborghini Murciélago 2002 1:29.0 Moist Series 1, Episode 1
6 AS One 2002 1:29.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 10
7 Lotus Esprit V8 GT 2002 1:32.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 10
8 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG 2002 1:33.0 Wet Series 1, Episode 6
9 Noble M12 GTO 2000 1:32.9[3] Wet Series 1, Episode 2
10 Honda NSX-R 2002 1:33.2 Wet[4] Series 1, Episode 6
11 Lotus Elise 111S 2002 1:35.0 Wet Series 1, Episode 7
12 Ferrari 575M Maranello 2002 1:35.0 Very Wet Series 1, Episode 4
13 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish 2002 1:36.0 Very Wet Series 1, Episode 4
14 Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa 2002 1:38.0 Very Wet Series 1, Episode 8
15 Bentley Arnage T 2002 1:40.0 Wet Series 1, Episode 5

Adjusted lap times[edit source]

Lap times adjusted for differing track conditions. Equal times have been sorted by track conditions, with "Very Wet" laps taking precedence over "Wet" laps etc., as they prove the car in question was capable of equalling that time in better conditions.

Position Car Original Time Track Conditions Revised Time
1 Radical SR3 1:19.1 Moist 1:17.1
2 Pagani Zonda 1:23.0 Moist 1:21.0
3 Westfield XTR2 1:22.6 Dry 1:22.6
4 Lamborghini Murciélago 1:29.0 Moist 1:27.0
5 MTM Bimoto 1:28.0 Dry 1:28.0
6 Noble M12 GTO 1:32.9 Wet 1:28.9
7 Ferrari 575M Maranello 1:35.0 Very Wet 1:29.0
8 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG 1:33.0 Wet 1:29.0
9 AS One 1:29.0 Dry 1:29.0
10 Honda NSX-R 1:33.2 Wet 1:29.2
11 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish 1:36.0 Very Wet 1:30.0
12 Lotus Elise 111S 1:35.0 Wet 1:31.0
13 Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa 1:38.0 Very Wet 1:32.0
14 Lotus Esprit V8 GT 1:32.0 Dry 1:32.0
15 Bentley Arnage T 1:40.0 Wet 1:36.0

Lap times which were recorded, but not added[edit | edit source]

Unlike later series, Series 1 featured a plethora of Power Laps which would have been recognised as valid lap times in later years, but were for some reason or another not officially added to the board during the broadcast of the inaugural series of Top Gear. Some of these, such as the Ford Focus RS and Volkswagen Golf R32 would debut in Series 2, whereas others, such as the Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG and Audi RS6 would never be added.

Position Car Year Time Track Conditions Episode
1 TVR T350C Prototype 2002 1:28.0[5] Dry Series 1, Episode 10
2 Audi RS6 2002 1:33.0 Wet Series 1, Episode 8
3 Volkswagen Golf R32 2002 1:33.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 9
4 Ford Focus RS 2002 1:33.8[6] Dry Series 1, Episode 2
5 MG ZR 2002 1:34.0[7] Dry Series 1, Episode 8
6 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG 2002 1:35.5 Wet Series 1, Episode 8
7 Honda Civic Type-R 2002 1:38.6[8] Dry Series 1, Episode 2
8 Subaru Impreza WRX 2001 1:39.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 2
9 Ford Mondeo 2002 1:41.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 4
10 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2002 1:42.9[9] Dry Series 1, Episode 4
11 BMW 318i 2002 1:43.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 4
12 Honda Accord 2.4 2002 1:44.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 4
13 Renault Laguna II 2002 1:45.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 4
14 Toyota Avensis 2.0 2002 1:45.5[10] Dry Series 1, Episode 4
15 Jaguar X-Type 2002 1:46.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 4
16 Suzuki Liana[11] 2002 1:48.0 Dry Series 1, Episode 1

Lap times set by drivers other than The Stig[edit | edit source]

Position Car Year Time Track Conditions Episode Driver
1 Mudry CAP 232 Acrobatic Plane 1998 1:18.2[12] N/A[13] Series 1, Episode 9 Tom Cassells
2 Subaru Impreza WRX STI[14] 2002 1:31.5[15] Dry Series 1, Episode 10 Olevi Doctrove
3 Ford World Rally Transit 2000 2:02.0[16] Dry Series 1, Episode 8 Dale Millar[17]
NC Peugeot RC Carreau 2002 Unknown[18] Wet Series 1, Episode 7 Richard Burns

Full board with adjusted lap times[edit source]

A board comprising all valid lap times made up to this point, appropriately adjusted to account for track conditions. Precipitation levels and track temperature are indicated with superscript letters which refer to these aspects which can impact an otherwise good lap. Laps not driven by The Stig are designated with italics. Note that only times made by land vehicles are counted. Of the 35 vehicles driven around the test track in Series 1, 33 qualify for inclusion to this list.

Position Car Year Time Episode
1 Radical SR3 2002 1:17.1M Series 1, Episode 9
2 Pagani Zonda 2002 1:21.0M Series 1, Episode 1
3 Westfield XTR2 2002 1:22.6 Series 1, Episode 3
4 Lamborghini Murciélago 2002 1:27.0M Series 1, Episode 1
5 MTM Bimoto 2002 1:28.0 Series 1, Episode 10
6 TVR T350C Prototype 2002 1:28.0 Series 1, Episode 10
7 Noble M12 GTO 2000 1:28.9W Series 1, Episode 2
8 Ferrari 575M Maranello 2002 1:29.0VW Series 1, Episode 4
9 Mercedes-Benz SL55 AMG 2002 1:29.0W Series 1, Episode 6
10 Audi RS6 2002 1:29.0W Series 1, Episode 8
11 AS One 2002 1:29.0 Series 1, Episode 10
12 Honda NSX-R 2002 1:29.2W Series 1, Episode 6
13 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish 2002 1:30.0VW Series 1, Episode 4
14 Lotus Elise 111S 2002 1:31.0W Series 1, Episode 7
15 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG 2002 1:31.5W Series 1, Episode 8
16 Subaru Impreza WRX STI 2002 1:31.5 Series 1, Episode 10
17 Maserati Coupé Cambiocorsa 2002 1:32.0VW Series 1, Episode 8
18 Lotus Esprit V8 GT 2002 1:32.0 Series 1, Episode 10
19 Volkswagen Golf R32 2002 1:33.0 Series 1, Episode 9
20 Ford Focus RS 2002 1:33.8 Series 1, Episode 2
21 MG ZR 2002 1:34.0 Series 1, Episode 8
22 Bentley Arnage T 2002 1:36.0W Series 1, Episode 5
23 Honda Civic Type-R 2002 1:38.6 Series 1, Episode 2
24 Subaru Impreza WRX 2001 1:39.0 Series 1, Episode 2
25 Ford Mondeo 2002 1:41.0 Series 1, Episode 4
26 Mercedes-Benz C-Class 2002 1:42.9 Series 1, Episode 4
27 BMW 318i 2002 1:43.0 Series 1, Episode 4
28 Honda Accord 2.4 2002 1:44.0 Series 1, Episode 4
29 Renault Laguna II 2002 1:45.0 Series 1, Episode 4
30 Toyota Avensis 2.0 2002 1:45.5 Series 1, Episode 4
31 Jaguar X-Type 2002 1:46.0 Series 1, Episode 4
32 Suzuki Liana 2002 1:48.0 Series 1, Episode 1
33 Ford World Rally Transit 2000 2:02.0 Series 1, Episode 8

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Rounded down to 1:19; the last tenth of a second was not officially disclosed until Series 2.
  2. ↑ Track was artificially soaked with a water truck for the first two broadcast Power Laps of Series 1, which failed to cover the entire track with water.
  3. ↑ The car's lap time was rounded up to 1:33 and placed behind the SL55 AMG despite being faster.
  4. ↑ By modern standards, this lap would have likely been considered as a "Very Wet" lap instead.
  5. ↑ Lap time was done as part of a challenge to make the car "livable" on a day-to-day basis.
  6. ↑ This time was later given as a 1:32 in Episode 9.
  7. ↑ This lap was not filmed and only mentioned by Richard Hammond in passing.
  8. ↑ Read out by Jeremy Clarkson as a "1:38.06", but most likely means six tenths rather than six hundredths of a second.
  9. ↑ Approximate time, as Richard Hammond stated it was almost 2 seconds slower than the Ford Mondeo.
  10. ↑ Time was given as "1:45" but was stated as slower than the Laguna.
  11. ↑ The Stig's initial lap time to beat for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment.
  12. ↑ Despite not being said by the hosts, the plane crossed the finish line 9 tenths of a second before the Radical did.
  13. ↑ The plane was in the air for most of the lap, and thus would not have been impacted by track conditions outside of take-off.
  14. ↑ Car had been modified by Prodrive to have a race-stripped interior and 330 brake horsepower.
  15. ↑ The final half-second was not officially disclosed until Series 2, Episode 6, when Richard Hammond compared the 2003 WRX STI against its predecessor, stating that it was just under 1.5 seconds quicker.
  16. ↑ Time would likely have been faster had Millar not caused the van's front-right tyre to blow out just before the finish line.
  17. ↑ (Archive link) PistonHeads - Top Gear White Van Challenge.
  18. ↑ Parts of a lap were shown, but the time was never disclosed.
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