The Last Ever Episode Of ‘The Grand Tour’ Drops Sept. 13

After an illustrious run spanning more than two decades, the iconic trio of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May are about to sign off from presenting a car show together. The last ever episode of “The Grand Tour” drops on Sept. 13, and the trailer was released today.

The final episode, entitled “One For The Road,” sees the presenters set out across Zimbabwe in a Lancia Beta Montecarlo (known as the Scorpion in America), a Ford Capri, and a Triumph Stag. Admittedly, those aren’t exactly the cars best suited for such an environment, but it wouldn’t be an episode of The Grand Tour if everything was meant to go perfectly.

Unusually, the trailer’s sparse in dialog, with a montage of shots scored by a version of “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother.” There’s plenty of laughter and a handful of shenanigans, but it feels like the producer’s leaving it vague, almost like we already know what to expect. The truth is, after so many years, we almost do.

I doubt that when Clarkson and Andy Wilman set out to relaunch “Top Gear,” they expected to create one of the biggest shows in the world, much less do it again on Amazon Prime. The fact is, millions of people laughed along as three men, or perhaps three man-sized boys, drove cars on television. From magnetic north to Australia to America to Botswana, the fantastic travels of three people who, from the outside looking in, had the best job in the world, captivated us and sparked joy, whether they were driving six-figure supercars or three-figure shitboxes.

Sure, the trio is not without controversy. There’s the time they pissed off everyone in Spain and everyone in America and everyone in Mexico and everyone in Wales and everyone in India and everyone who drove a truck and everyone in Germany and everyone in Scotland and everyone in the North, and a few people in a village in Somerset, and the Mountaineering Council, and caravan enthusiasts, and the Morris Marina Owners Club, and anti-smoking campaigners, and Elon Musk, and many other people, but let’s not get too bogged down in details. It also says something that the most frequent targets of their brand of banter were each other, as that’s a huge part of what often made both shows brilliant fun to watch.

I’ll never forget the first time I saw an episode of “Top Gear” broadcast on television. Series five, episode one, the one with the Vauxhall Monaro, Chrysler 300C, and Jaguar S-Type R on the Pendine Sands. I was but a small boy, but seeing cars slithering about on camera made me think “Man, I want to do something like this when I grow up.” I might be lucky to have a platform, but I’m not the only one who felt that sort of way. Clarkson, Hammond, and May did so much for automotive enthusiasm, and it’s worth recognizing them for that.

All good things must come to an end, and while we can always wish for more, the fact is, it feels about time for “The Grand Tour” to wrap. With a three-week wait for the final ride off into the sunset, it feels about right to start marathoning the old stuff, don’t you think?

(Photo credits: The Grand Tour)

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