Motorcycle racing at the highest level is pretty much a closed shop for anyone without a lot of money and some good contacts.
So Paddy McGuinness (49) invited two young drivers with no real track experience and two teenage mechanics with the aim of pitting them against two well-funded racers who have been in the game for years with just eight weeks of training. .
Episode four of Top Gear’s new series, which airs on Sunday, features comedian Paddy helping to cast four people after receiving thousands of applications.
Challenge: Paddy McGuinness (49) invited two young drivers with no real track experience and two young mechanics to practice for the GT Cup for Sunday’s Top Gear
He had just eight weeks to train the aspiring racers and mechanics ahead of the prestigious GT Cup at Donington, where they would drive a McLaren.
Fortunately, TV star Paddy was able to enlist the help of F1 ace Lando Norris (23).
Paddy told his team: “If you want to be the best, you have to learn from the absolute best, so today I have a special guest for you to beat: current McLaren F1 driver and all-round superstar Lando Norris. “
Expert: Paddy enlisted the help of F1 ace Lando Norris, 23 (pictured) when he tried to train two young, inexperienced track drivers and two mechanics for a race
After meeting the team, Lando recalled his first F1 race and told Paddy when asked what was on his mind: ‘Oh so many! I was so nervous then.
“A lot of it is just pressure that you put on yourself, but you know that if you just do your job, you’ll do well.”
Paddy asked Lando, “You ran a race, you didn’t do a particularly good job. How do you shake it off?’
Words of wisdom: Lando spoke to the aspiring racers and mechanics as they prepared for their eight-week training course
He replied, “You can’t do it alone. You have to ask the people who are there for you: “How can I do better next time?”
“Once you’ve seen it, just leave it behind and look at the next one.”
It comes after Paddy’s Top Gear co-presenter Chris Harris needed surgery following a cardboard accident while filming the current series.
Good humour: The driver smiled as he chatted to the group the day after the hopefuls practiced on two go-karts
The 47-year-old broadcaster is “still broken” and has to go under the knife for the BBC One show after beating Paddy at a Formula Hmong race in Thailand.
Paddy told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “He’s still excited. His right hand is still not good.
“When he raises his hand, I’m not sure if it’s his finger or thumb, but one of them points the other way. He needs an operation.”
Warm welcome: Paddy gave Lando a warm welcome, with the athlete wearing an official McLaren hoodie as he appeared on camera
In the incident – which was seen earlier in the series – the two raced down a hill in the wooden cars, dressed in helmets and body armour.
Chris described it as “simple” as racing can be.
He said: “It’s as down to earth as motorsport can get. Steering is by foot, the only fuel is gravity and the machines themselves are, shall we say, sustainably produced.”
Challenge: It comes after Paddy’s Top Gear co-presenter Chris Harris needed surgery following a cardboard accident while filming the current series
Paddy noted that the cameras did not accurately capture Chris’s “reasonable speed” and the way he fell “hard”.
He said: “When Chris came down he was going at a decent speed and hit the ground hard
“There are no cars – there wasn’t even really a brake. When you’re done, think, “I’m glad we got to leave.” Chris got off lightly.’
During the race, Chris could be heard shouting: “I can’t steer. I have absolutely no control.’
Before his crash, he said “oh no” and slid down a dirt road before rolling over.
When Paddy saw his friend, Chris said, “My hand really hurts.”
Top Gear is broadcast on Sundays at 8pm on BBC One.
Dangerous: Paddy McGuinness (right) is seen co-hosting with Freddie Flintoff (centre) and Chris Harris (left). Top Gear is broadcast on Sundays at 8pm on BBC One
Source: Daily Mail
Ashley Root is an author and celebrity journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a keen eye for all things celebrity, Ashley is always up-to-date on the latest gossip and trends in the world of entertainment.
