Top Gear Series 8 Episode 2: Corvette Z06, Tomcat Off-Road and Stig’s Record Lap
Clarkson tests the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 against European rivals, Hammond tackles tough terrain in a V8 Tomcat, and the Stig sets a new Suzuki Liana benchmark.
Top Gear’s eighth series continued with Episode 2, first broadcast in 2006, featuring a mix of American muscle, British off-road engineering and a reshuffle at the top of the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car leaderboard.
Clarkson’s Corvette Z06 review
Jeremy Clarkson took the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 to the Top Gear test track, putting the American V8 coupe through its paces. The Z06, with its 7.0-litre LS7 V8 producing 505bhp, was pitched as a rival to European grand tourers. Clarkson compared its straight-line pace and handling to the Ferrari 575, highlighting the Corvette’s raw performance and value for money. The review focused on the Z06’s ability to deliver supercar-level speed at a fraction of the cost of its Italian counterparts.
Hammond’s Tomcat V8 off-road challenge
Richard Hammond switched from tarmac to mud, taking on a specially modified Tomcat V8 in a head-to-head challenge against a canoeist. The Tomcat, built on a Range Rover chassis and powered by a TVR V8, was designed for extreme off-road competition. Despite the Tomcat’s power and bespoke engineering, the canoeist managed to win the race, underlining the difficulty of the terrain and the limitations even of heavily modified 4x4s in certain conditions.
The Stig’s record-breaking Suzuki Liana lap
The episode also saw the Stig return to the Suzuki Liana, the show’s original Reasonably Priced Car, for a fresh lap time. The Stig set a new fastest time of 1:44.4, eclipsing previous benchmarks set by both celebrity guests and professional drivers. This time beat Ellen MacArthur’s best as the fastest celebrity and narrowly edged out Nigel Mansell’s mark as the quickest Formula One driver to have appeared on the show up to that point.
- Clarkson’s Z06 test focused on track performance and value.
- Hammond’s Tomcat challenge highlighted British off-road engineering.
- The Stig’s lap set a new Liana record at 1:44.4.
Episode context and related content
Top Gear Series 8 Episode 2 balanced high-performance road tests with unconventional challenges, a format that defined the show’s appeal during this period. The Corvette Z06 segment provided a rare chance to see an American sports car measured directly against European rivals on British television. The off-road challenge with the Tomcat V8 showcased the versatility of British engineering, even if the outcome didn’t favour the car. The Stig’s new lap time in the Suzuki Liana gave the studio leaderboard a shake-up.
For more on Top Gear’s supercar reviews and unusual challenges from this era, see Top Gear Season 13 Episode 2: Lamborghini Murciélago LP670-4 SV and Teenage Car Challenge.
