Episode Archive - Series 9

On life-in-the-freezer Top Gear, the team wrapped up warm and undertook the most extreme challenge in the history of the world's most extreme motoring show - a race to the North Pole.

You'll probably agree that 450 miles of Arctic tundra, ice boulders, polar bears and -35 degree temperatures make a quick jaunt across Europe in a Bugatti look a little tame by comparison.

Richard's transport would be a tried-and-trusted team of ten Inuit dogs and a wooden sled, while Jeremy would be attempting a world first by driving a car to the pole - well, a heavily modified Toyota pick-up truck. This sounded a little unfair on Richard, so to even the odds Jeremy was given a little handicap. James May.

Before heading to the Arctic Circle, our three intrepid presenters were sent to a cold-weather training camp in Austria to get an idea of what an icy death might feel like. Here, an ex-special forces type with a pixelated face got very shouty while showing the boys how to put up a tent, and pushed Jeremy into some extremely cold water. That done, everyone felt much better prepared for their assault on the pole.

The starting point was Resolute, Canada's most northerly town. The dogs were primed with food and the Toyota filled with freeze-resistant fuel. The team was finally ready for the off.

At first the going was pretty easy, especially for Jeremy and James, who invoked the spirit of classic Victorian explorers by sipping gin and tonics while the Toyota surged forward. But when they encountered an Arctic sea with very thin ice, it soon became apparent that Richard's sled had its advantages. One slip here and Clarkson would be reliving his Austrian ice bath experience - only there wouldn't be a nice cup of cocoa and a dry pair of pants waiting for him this time, just a slow death as hypothermia took hold. Hammond and the dogs had no such problems and the gap started to close.

The next major obstacle was a field of ice boulders. These enormous and immovable blocks of ice form an almost impenetrable maze and, needless to say, James's navigational skills were pushed beyond their limits. The Toyota quickly became bogged down as it beached itself on the boulders time and time again.

Disaster finally struck as Jeremy's impatience got the better of him. He powered the Toyota over a huge bump with too much enthusiasm, wrecking part of the suspension and tearing through the Toyota's inch-thick armoured underside. Spares were available, but fitting them in freezing conditions took time. All the while, Hammond and his hounds where hunting the pair down.

Eventually - and with a sense of relief that can't be expressed in words - the Toyota broke free of the boulder field and made its final push for the pole. Richard had no chance now and dog power was resoundingly bested by horsepower. Frankly, everyone was glad to have made it there safely. Now all that was left to do was go home. But that's a story for another day.

First shown on: 25/07/2007