A Dangerous Tunnel Challenge Goes Wrong on The Grand Tour
The trio of British motoring journalists who gained fame on Top Gear—Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May—are back in the spotlight as they film a fresh episode of The Grand Tour. During a recent stunt designed for the show, the hosts attempted a high‑stakes sprint through an underground tunnel. What seemed like a simple test of nerve quickly devolved into a mishap that left the crew shaken and the sequence temporarily halted. The incident underscores how even experienced drivers can misjudge timing when a sequence is engineered to heighten risk for the cameras.
In the clip accompanying the project, the narration notes that the plan saw Hammond and May facing a tunnel where motion triggers the light system in each new section. The lights illuminate sequentially as movement is detected, culminating in a final fast‑paced dash toward a solid stone wall. The moment the last lights flicker on, the drivers must immediately decelerate and come to a controlled stop. The drill is meant to test reflexes and precision under pressure, but the execution did not unfold as intended.
Clarkson sets the pace, sprinting through the tunnel in a high‑performance Audi RS4 and clearing the course with apparent ease. May, whose on‑screen nickname has long been Captain Slow, encountered trouble when his timing faltered near the exit. He slowed too late, resulting in a collision with the wall. The impact was more of a glancing blow than a full crash, with the car skidding and the body taking the brunt of the contact. May was escorted away from the scene by crew members and later observed in an ambulance, though reports later indicated he was conscious and rapidly recovering. Hammond, determined to finish the sequence, pressed on in a Subaru WRX STI, adding a distinctive, if quirky, final touch to the shoot. The scene closed with the team regrouping and continuing to capture material for the episode, reflecting a camaraderie that still holds the show together even when things go off script. [citation: The Grand Tour production team] [citation: Behind the scenes footage released by the project]
- Additionally, some social media chatter pointed to a separate stunt by a blogger who tested a smartphone feature by crashing a car for a viral moment.
- Discourses about safety and risk in automotive entertainment have circulated among fans and industry observers alike.
Video coverage of the event circulated on the show’s official channels, drawing attention from audiences in Canada and the United States who follow the hosts for performance, humor, and the occasional chaotic misadventure. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of high‑stakes filming and the constant emphasis on safety and on‑set protocols that govern modern automotive programming. [citation: official channel release] [citation: fan commentary thread]