Part three of Scene Scania's Interview with Richard Hammond.
So all this, but still no trucking experience? “No I’m afraid not,” says Richard. “Up until today, that is. Top Gear doesn’t do much on trucks, but I can see the day coming when we will. I paid a visit to Truckfest Peterborough this year and I know the interest is there – so as our audience continues to get wider, I’m sure it will happen sooner or later.”
The viewing figures, by the way, serve to demonstrate the universal appeal of the programme. Top Gear today attracts a regular UK audience of between four and six million. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg as the show is also beamed out worldwide, reaching motoring enthusiasts as far afield as Russia and China. “We’ve got 200 million viewers altogether – and I’ve heard it said that more people watch us in India than actually live in Britain!” says Richard.
So given his wide experience, what is Richard Hammond’s personal preference when it comes to motor vehicles? “As I said earlier, I like a vehicle that does its job well. My favourite is my Landrover, a 1957 Series 1 model that still lugs up the hills and runs as well today as it ever did. My other car’s an old Porsche 911. Again, that performs the way it should, but having said that, I’m soon to trade it in for a 1968-vintage 7.5-litre Dodge Charger muscle machine – I like big things as well and you’ve got to have a bit of fun, haven’t you?!
“And on that note, I’m certainly enjoying myself with the R-series. My grandfather drove tank transporters, which I think were known as ‘Queen Marys’, during the Second World War and my father always said he wanted to be a long distance truck driver, although he never did it. I think he liked the glamour of the idea more than the reality. Now I can see the attraction too, especially in a vehicle like this.
“As my friend and esteemed colleague – a certain Mr Clarkson – once famously said on Top Gear: ‘There’s two types of truck driver; those who drive a Scania and those who want to.’
“I now realise exactly what he was talking about!”
“Top Gear has been incredibly exciting to work on. It’s such a success that I feel like the luckiest man in the world with the best job too. It’s certainly allowed me to do a whole host of things I’d never get the chance to have a go at otherwise” As my friend and esteemed colleague – a certain Mr Clarkson – once famously said: ‘There’s two types of truck driver; those who drive a Scania and those who want to’
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