Historic People Carrier Racing | Top Gear

Richard Hammond proudly introduces his newly invented sport - historic people carrier racing! Watch all the the carnage from the messy race in action in this full high quality video on the BBC Top Gear KZbin channel, and visit www.topgear.com for all the latest news and car reviews.
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[@EnforcerX71]

I'd love to meet the 9 people who bought an Espace when they were released.

[@Skorpychan]

My dad was an early adopter of them in the 90s. It was actually surprisingly good as a Family Car. I remember one time we went to the zoo, and brought a picnic to eat in the car, since the seats could do the turny thing. People lost their fucking minds when they saw my parents sitting facing the wrong way. Downside was that the 'flexible space' meant my mother nearly crashed it when a bag fell over on the way home from the supermarket and a tin of beans rolled under the pedals. She was not amused by that, and insisted that bags be tied shut in future.

[@erykrejner2528]

@@Skorpychan Oh god what a nightmare... I had a similar problem once with my work car: Dacia Dokker, but it was the car mat that got under the pedal.

[@chaz_bl3731]

I don’t know how there’s so many used ones about when no one bought the original

[@Skorpychan]

@@chaz_bl3731 Taxis.

[@southbayrickybobby5820]

I’ve met one. She was my “uncles” wife. She was that typical wife though... down to the even worse sister... just make sure you don’t meet that one....

[@Micro296]

racing drivers really can race anything

[@shreeharibharadwaj9531]

my russian mom can too

[@Renegade_7274]

Even planes

[@Renegade_7274]

CALL ME ASG yep, she sure can race me

[@sakariaskarlsson634]

I once borrowed a scenic, i still overtook everything.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

So can regular drivers, you just have to not care.

[@coastaku1954]

"Now they sell in their millions and are slowly killing off the Hatchback" *Looking back from 2020* Yeah... They didn't see the SUV Revolution coming, did they?

[@T_D_B_]

@Moolinyan thank America....

[@GintaPPE1000]

I mean, they helped push it by making minivans and wagons uncool...

[@riowarner0617]

@@T_D_B_ Kinda

[@user-kd2br5bi9q]

Suvs are really stupid cars

[@riowarner0617]

@@user-kd2br5bi9q no

[@richard_nj]

"People Carriers are killing off the Hatchback and the Saloon car." Well that was a freezing cold take.

[@hybridAbsol]

Those damn SUVs....

[@CWINDOWSsystem32]

The car people should buy are minivans, but they all buy dumb CUVs instead. It makes no sense, why buy something that makes you look a certain way instead of buying something that you actually need?

[@richard_nj]

@@CWINDOWSsystem32 because a lot of people care more about looking a certain way than about what they actually need? People are vain and stupid.

[@idontexist1681]

@@CWINDOWSsystem32 my renault clio can beat those suvs in an offroad racd

[@taitonaito]

@@CWINDOWSsystem32 let's face it, we can't entirely blame the people. Over half the minivans get purchased by corporations and businesses all the time for various purposes. Literally not a market window for a civilian to own a van.

[@anthonycammarata4613]

If we did this in America, everyone would be in old Sienna's, oddseys, town and countries, and windstars. That was great!

[@MattyIce250]

Anthony Cammarata me and my friends do a version of minivan racing, 500 max budget, modify each others car, and set up a race on some farm land my family owns! it is fun, i usually go for a dodge or chrysler (mopar or no car!)

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

None of those vans were in production yet when the ones in this video were. It would have been Toyota Previa (also in the video), Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, and Pontiac Trans Sport.

[@crudboy12]

Siennas actually have a fair bit of power to them.

[@reefkeepingandeverythingelse]

Aren't those minivans v6s? They shouldn't feel that slow imo.

[@JackDanger99]

I read that as “Sennas” and was confused…

[@williamrowold9656]

I love that they just found semi functional cars for under 1000 bucks each and made a great episode out of it

[@LongLiveHelghast]

Funny thing is, most of those cars (especially the two Espaces that they raced) are worth a lot of money right now

[@CubCadetMan71]

There’s a local track that does 80 lap enduro races with front wheel drive cars, among other events. Usually a few minivans slide through. One year this guy had a Chrysler town and country that he absolutely drove like a madman. He finished second and actually won a couple grand. He drove it like he stole it. Drifting corners, overtaking Hyundai Tiburons and Nissan Altima’s with his 20 year old Dodge.

[@langos8444]

I'd love to see video record of that 😂

[@msmediaab]

It was probably stolen.

[@compphysgeek]

is it just me or was the old Top Gear by far better than the current Top Gear and even Grand Tour? Screw amazon's big budget, this is most fun on small budget

[@marcoroberts9462]

Back under the labour government the bbc would give top gear a pretty big budget

[@brandonmartin-moore5302]

Definitely, when the budget got too high near the end it got silly

[@GoyBenius_0901]

@@marcoroberts9462 Yeah but we also had to deal with a labour goverment, so there were tradeoffs, great Topgear, shit everything else or decent Topgear, decent everything else.

[@perspii2808]

@@GoyBenius_0901 2000’s neoliberalist Labour was complete trash tbh. Equally as bad as the Conservatives, if not worse.

[@headlightstheperson4596]

Old Top Gear ftw

[@hamishfox]

This would be a genuinely entertaining racing series.

[@ColtonBlumhagen]

It's mid-engined, just like a Ferrari. LOL

[@alphacentaurianperson]

Yeah, which means that my mum has had two mid-engined cars in her life. Must be rich.

[@anaveragechildontheinterne9765]

Hammond sounds like a ricer in this quote

[@andydudley1775]

is that not what you mash potatoe with ?

[@barisaxmax]

Mid Engined...like a Ferrari. What could possibly go wrong?

[@visionist7]

Enzo Ferrari categorically stated that a real Ferrari is front engined

[@djizzah]

I love the height difference between Jezza and Hamster

[@SunnyFOXGLOVE]

Its not Jezza and Hamster, its Orangutan and Hamster.

[@xxstellastarlightxx9284]

11 inches lmao

[@marceliskandar4964]

Year 2020 and this race still have more excitements and trills than the current F1

[@666lummel]

Wel that changed in 2021

[@BopPop42]

​and we're back to normal well after that outlier year

[@kokodjamba6657]

Top Gear: *organises a race involving some questionable cars* Tom Chilton: *Well hello there*

[@TraustiGeir]

He never misses a race like this.

[@halolime117]

Who?

[@TraustiGeir]

@@halolime117 He's a British touring car racer who has shown up for multiple Top Gear races.

[@kokodjamba6657]

@@TraustiGeir Not only that. 3-4 3rd places for Vauxhall and Honda british racing teams, 17 years in motorsport since 2002 apperently

[@lastp6905]

Still waiting to be a champion isn’t he

[@picaae]

I'd like to see that dubbed with US middle class housewives cursing at each other...

[@bury_the_elite65294]

picaae - or dubbed with audio footage of Russian drivers dashcams; "Cyka blyat!!!!"

[@mirisch64]

@@bury_the_elite65294 ты охуел?

[@RoobehTunes]

the Karen Cup

[@taitonaito]

@@RoobehTunes naah man, if it was Karen Cup it would be 10 Priuses playing bumper cars and calling cops after the first quarter of a lap.

[@nate8930]

5:43 Bug on window: "oh god oh god oh god!"

[@kaihtheloner]

I always thought it was Renault E-Space. lol. Now I know its Es-spaz

[@julianelmo7006]

kaihtheloner it’s French for space

[@Mikeb1001]

Nah, they haven’t made an electric version yet

[@halolime117]

We call it renault spastic

[@yannollelaprune2786]

forget f1, i want to race MPV'S!

[@fatama1399]

تتهه ز99كخ

[@DarkKnightwing75]

You could mix them both, Renault did that with the Renault Espace F1. Look it up, it’s epic.

[@rhodesianwojak2095]

@@DarkKnightwing75 lmao i didn't know that the Frenchies had done such a great thing

[@ShasOSwoll]

Yann Olle Laprune you’re the real MPV

[@mariodacostamosteiro7262]

@@rhodesianwojak2095 Don't forget that Ford did something like that with the Transit for be specific, the Supervan series of vans highly modificated to go fast

[@marguskiis7711]

24 hours version with all pilots of a team racing together in a car all the day would be great.

[@brandenlucero]

damn i didnt realize how tall Clarkson was next to Hammond..

[@EnforcerX71]

@The Bushwacker Yeah, Clarkson has literally been unable to test certain cars because he's too tall.

[@truckspank656]

@The Bushwacker I'd question the 5' 6" of Hammond, love it when he claims to be 5' 7 1/2" though.

[@kickheadsmuoke689]

steve d He is actually 5’4”.

[@BonnieBoi]

"and no body contact" *body contact happens* Me: Yay more banger racing

[@129aslamnurfikrir4]

There's this track on Wreckfest

[@DAZUNIVERSALINDUSTREIS]

@@129aslamnurfikrir4 is it?

[@Strideo1]

This was way better than 90% of the car races I've ever seen. :D

[@oldjagfan]

Shout out to Tom for repping the Lego Star Wars sponsorship.

[@Mikeb1001]

Shows how old this actually is! That was an EP Civic

[@conradmerkel8725]

The touring car races are truly the best segments on Top Gear

[@UberMan5000]

My family used to have a first-gen Previa. It was pretty awesome. My dad also had a couple of Space Cruisers, they were pretty nuts, too.

[@brickhead48]

The Toyota Spacecruiser, once described as "highly unstable"

[@timcastanien6069]

That Mitsubishi wagon is what used to be the Dodge Colt Vista here in the States.They had a 2.0L 4cyl that was a really good motor back in the late 80's . My mom had one ,it topped out at 118 MPH and was actually fun to drive.

[@soundseeker63]

"I'm using the toyota to steer the espace, countering my terrible understeer problems" They are right, this is so much better than F1!!!!

[@SabahAlev]

in those few minutes of racing, i saw more action than in 3 seasons of nascar.

[@ThESnAKe321]

Wow 13 year's old comment 🤩

[@jackcloud4728]

Hammond really was my favourite presenter back then he didn t try and act like he did later on

[@Samett98]

We need to celebrate Espace. Espace F1: *am i a joke to you?*

[@TraustiGeir]

Now that's a vehicle I never knew existed.

[@SultanNizi3000GT]

Ah yes, the iconic van that only appeared in Gran Turismo 2 so far

[@williampeugeot3239]

That Mitsubishi is super rare now and when was the last time you saw a Mk1 Espace in the uk?!

[@Aehzur]

Never seen that Mitsubishi space wagon, only ever seen a few espaces

[@mtn9494]

I thought the same. In germany these are also super rare. Never seen one. I drive a 1992 Mitsubishi Sigma, and have also never seen another one.

[@Darnihx]

I've never seen a mk1 espace in Finland

[@finnbar87]

@@Aehzur We had one (exactly like that one in the video) when I was a kid. Not for too long, though. It broke down so much, that my dad sold it as a scrap. :)

[@Aehzur]

finnbar87 scrap, sounds about right for Renault

[@katsaras1]

How do you know it's going to be a race to demolish every single car there? They got Touring Car drivers 😂... and Hammond

[@dbclass4075]

In case of desperation, James May as well.

[@peterxyz3541]

The reality is, I would absolutely watch this type of race!

[@xcofcd]

This generation espace seems to be pretty well build for a Renault. For example they're fully galvanized. I've seen several even nowadays in the shop and none of them had any rust while my 10 year old BMW started rusting. And they all have high mileages above 300.000km

[@peterullinger2814]

AFAIK they were built by Matra.

[@OffGridInvestor]

As the owner of a hyundai trajet..... minivans are MADE TO BE converted into vehicles you can sleep in. Mine is complete with water tank, sink, second battery, freezer, and I had a stove which I took out (my stupid skinny strap rubbed thru with all the movement while driving after a few months).

[@specialproblem5459]

Watched this countless times. This is really Great TV championship champion, Champion!

[@TaintedBlood30]

That was...nothing short of amazing.

[@11dee6]

This has to be one of the funniest races I've ever seen

[@muhdshariq4307]

dam haha

[@lewywyatt3749]

5:44 That housefly is having one hell of a day.

[@LairdDeimos]

This is so much more interesting than other races. The smashing and sheer impracticality is great fun.

[@russeljonas7301]

we need the America version the Venture, Dodge caravan and the Ford Windstar

[@azynkron]

Yeah.. they wouldn't even make it to the start line.

[@showoe3126]

don't forget the Astro van

[@2driftlong]

That was so fun to watch..."this is the best form of racing ever devised", you said it buddy, you said it :D lol. "there was more action in that one race than a whole year of f1", so true.

[@xilverdragon]

motorhome races... MPV races..... TOPGEAR YOUR A DREAM!!

[@Cyber_Horse_Studios87]

Kinda surprised the Cherry Vanette didn’t make the list. That car made quite the splash when it was made. Also it would have been hilarious if the GMC Safari and the Chevy Astro made the list too.

[@TheBeavadelic]

*lol*- I've seen enough Top Gear challenge races to realize that when the other racers were introduced that this would be more of a demolition derby race..... and it was!!!! Good on ya, mates!!!!

[@ZetaMAGES]

HPCRCR, the most brutal racing series ever implemented.

[@superscope27]

Aw I remember those long road trips in the Previa. Very comfortable car.

[@ericmadsen7470]

This is the golden age of good Top Gear.

[@drone_tours]

When I see the Espace It reminds me of the TESLA Cybertruck

[@bjw4859]

That must have been so much fun, I would pay serious money to do that for real.

[@multini]

This is absolutely awesome!

[@yo93yeah]

i love when i just randomly find a top gear challenge that ive never seen !!!

[@BillehBobJoe]

2:59 0-60 in 28 seconds? how is that possible does it make 40 horsepower?

[@chrishart8548]

At the wheels probably yes! Think there was a 1.6petrol and a 2.3diesel. I think the petrol was 70hp the diesel was 68hp both really slow

[@soundseeker63]

The early 2.0d version had 65bhp, which in an 8 seater MPV equals 0-60 in about 30 seconds! Can you even imagine how awful it would have been with 8 people and their luggage.....?! You'd go faster on your pushbike! lol

[@chrishart8548]

@@soundseeker63 if it's anything like an old non turbo transit. It sounds more like a machine gun than and engine when you push it for maximum power!

[@rifqiadjie323]

Probably weight and diesel engine (UK spec). JDM version got sr20de

[@Rosstephersharmanschannel]

This is probably the closest top gear will do to bangers

[@nguyenvinhvx]

I would join this racing series, and laugh at myself afterward. This is too funny, TopGear gotta make some more races like these.!

[@raim1147]

This is gold

[@briandang236]

@ 5:44 Poor Bug: "HELPPPPPP!!!!! GET ME OFF OF THIS THANNNNGGGG!!!!"

[@mccrackenphillip]

I believe Espace was equivalent to U.S. Dodge Caravan Plymouth Voyager van

[@dukenukem4447]

That was some quality driving from Hammond.

[@LegoSpaceWorms]

hammonds races are always awesome !!!!

[@elipurser6893]

it actually sounds like a good idea

[@stanojevicnatasa2514]

If this ever became professional racing series, Car and Driver may not have written about it... But Karen Driver woman be interested.

[@InTheZ0n3]

Karen senna lol

[@AdzSONLINE]

What a bunch of bandits I love it

[@w00tchocolate]

Hammond looks so happy :3

[@DavidCaudry]

The Espace F1 with F1 Renault V10

[@mariansamol5034]

There was more action in this race than in a whole year of F1. Sad but true

[@konarider]

aah the Previa...takes me back.

[@Phate18]

UNCLUDING! That's just brilliant! You just made my day, silly little man.

[@gab7506]

I kinda wanna do this but allow modifications to the cars

[@revolver265]

I love how Hammond is occasionally the one to instagate the body content, and then blames it on the touring car drivers for being touring car drivers.

[@SschmierFink]

My dad had a previa when I was little. We had a fridge, he could transport all my friends home after school and we paid more for fuel in a month than for our house. I miss that monster of a car!

[@rock3tcatU233]

The "Space Hopper" was hilarious... xD

[@moneyaccount9775]

if you are on mobile, then keep on doubletaping on the left side so it goes back 10 secounds at the start and see Richards face

[@ZiemniakzUa]

0:00 - the best face ever ;p

[@michaelgoode9555]

I had a baby and a second on the way when the Espace was released. Nearly bought one but went for a Peugeot estate car instead. That worked out surprisingly well.

[@Joshlama]

WINS all around!! And yes, I would watch a Historic People Carrier Racing Championship!

[@Maneir]

And here my bias had me rooting for the Mitsubishi... (I own a 4WD variant)

[@visionist7]

Mattress in the back yeah

[@gaocheng1]

Those are rare

[@splat003]

"this race saw more action than a whole formula 1 season " well, that's not a chalange is it, was at a scrapyard, saw more action there then f1.....

[@abnwil3873]

splat003 it also had more action than nascar

[@michealbithi1290]

Not more than nascar, you seen the crashes?

[@abnwil3873]

micheal bithi maybe , but f1 is much more fun than nascar

[@nickjeffrey8050]

Abnwil nascar fucking sucks 😂😂😂😂

[@ravileejones7381]

It's lights out, and Lewis Hamilton wins the ____ Grand Prix!

[@knightrous21]

This looks like so much fun!

[@FanOfKOTOKO]

Epic race.

[@xtechcoparation1844]

I now have a VW Sharan 2nd gen TDI Sport people carrier but i removed the seats on 3rd row two of my friends have people carriers too one had a Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 one had a Chrysler Voyager mine had a puncture once but now the tyre has ripped [not like the bentley brookland]just on the wall

[@fredjonson5781]

weird bug at 5:44

[@topstep]

Excellent stuff.

[@jd3076]

I love that previa best minivan of all time

[@Vladpryde]

I'd SO do this! I'd take my mother's 150K mile 1996 Ford WIndstar and enter (3.8 Liter DPI V6; 200 HP), fly it across to the UK, and enter it in.

[@harpreetmaan4568]

yamla jatt song

[@rossmurison]

well then prepare to be destroyed by me in my mum's 2001 Chrysler voyager LX! actually nevermind I would go flying off at the first corner due to the tiny brakes on that thing

[@ylwpyro9549]

Move over for the 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette!

[@Vladpryde]

YLW Pyro lol my Windstar is newer! :P

[@EstCrossings]

Vladpryde Id take a espace 4 and give it the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X engine and enter it.

[@colingladden3355]

Pause the video at 0:00

[@noahsavastio928]

FoamerNation Colin hahahahaha

[@josephdouglas5242]

Or press 0 over and over.

[@SinArtavia]

Ozzy Osborne is that you?

[@xmrsedibossgamer6294]

Hahahahahahahahha... The preview of a demolition race...

[@DareDevilPhil]

that is unsettling, jesus christ

[@Sevoverkill]

"and you'll marry a person alot taller" LOL!!! epic!!! Awesome race

[@thelonewolfesoldier]

richard hammond makes up a lot of new racing categories |D

[@Zerotoonami]

"their underpants were in fact, brown" LMFAO

[@drewbishop3531]

"...and no body contact. But rally drivers tend to forget that last part."

[@brgreengo]

Touring car drivers*

[@soconoha8495]

I agree, Historic People Carrier Racing is a home run.

[@nuss529]

I loved this

[@donewhiskey]

0:41 Volkswagen Microbus? Often imitated, never equaled.

[@Flying_GC]

Except other makes were more, reliable/ comfortable/ handled better/ looked better other than that you're right.

[@Aurasmae]

Tom Chilton had a Lego Starwars badge. :P

[@rosey4exclaim]

Wow. That's awesome!

[@BFKAnthony817]

Thats full of all kinds of win!

[@sisterofslaanesh666]

iv been on top gear and met richard hammond, he is very nice and fucking funny, and quiet sexy.....

[@garbonzobean4058]

is "people-carrier" British for "mini-van"?

[@KermitTheFud]

Yeah

[@MarsRacingNetwork]

Yup

[@soundseeker63]

+Garbonzo Bean Kinda, most modern people carriers are based on car underpinnings rather than a van, but they do basically the same job.

[@azynkron]

Mini-van would refer to a vehicle without passenger capacity.

[@koningwillie6839]

No

[@fiveknuckleshuffle91]

Any race that has top gear in it will be the best

[@krankbuster5827]

I had one. Excellent motor !