Top Gear Russia

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Top Gear Russia (Top Gear: Русская версия) is a Russian motoring television series on Ren-TV, based on the British programme Top Gear produced by the BBC. It premiered on 22 February 2009.<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>

Presenters

The hosts chosen for Top Gear Russia are:

• Nikolai Fomenko, Pop star, race car driver, theater actor and TV presenter. He is also involved in the creation of the Russian hybrid supercar Marussia.
• Mikhail Petrovsky, actor, automotive journalist and blogger.
• Oskar Kuchera, TV presenter and actor.
• The local version of the mysterious Stig who appears in the British show.<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>

Segments

Power Lap

Similar to both the original UK series and its Australian spin-off, Top Gear Russia features a Powerlap segment, in this case held in an abandoned airfield in Mnevniki. To inaugurate the track and populate the lap board in the first episode, the hosts invited numerous local celebrities to participate and treated them to a picnic with shashlik and a smoking samovar.

Lap times

1. Template:Country flagicon 1:12.00 - Porsche 911 Turbo Cabriolet (damp)
2. Template:Country flagicon 1:12.96 - Nissan GT-R
3. Template:Country flagicon 1:13.16 - 1985 Porsche 911
4. Template:Country flagicon 1:13.88 - Bentley Continental GT Speed (damp and icy)
5. Template:Country flagicon 1:14.00 - Alpina B3
6. Template:Country flagicon 1:14.83 - Lamborghini Gallardo (some snow+summer tyres)
7. Template:Country flagicon 1:16.85 - Aston Martin V8 Vantage Roadster (damp)
8. Template:Country flagicon 1:17.85 - Aston Martin DB9 (very wet)
9. Template:Country flagicon 1:19.00 - Ferrari 550M
10. Template:Country flagicon 1:21.01 - Range Rover Sport
11. Template:Country flagicon 1:22.12 - Mazda MX-5
12. Template:Country flagicon 1:22.27 - Fiat 500
13. Template:Country flagicon 2:08.71 - Land Rover Defender 90 SVX soft top (ice+snow)
14. Template:Country flagicon 2:15.93 - UAZ 469 Off-Road modified (ice+snow)
15. Template:Country flagicon 2:23.25 - Audi R8 (snow)

Star in a Reasonably Priced Car

The Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment and the Australian "Star in a Bog Standard Car" are mirrored with Russia's own version. The car used is a race-prepped Lada Kalina. Unlike in the UK version of Top Gear, a different lap format is used for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car segment to that of the Stig's power laps.

Lap Times

1:13.04 - Albert Demchenko 1:13.17 - Seryoga 1:13.93 - Dmitry Nosov 1:15.27 - Aleksandr of Nepara 1:19.23 - Valerii Nikolaev 1:20.30 - Yury Grymov 1:22.00 - Nikas Safronov 1:22.13 - Alexander Marshal 1:22.16 - 1:27.00 - Karina Koks 1:32.93 - Viktoria of Nepara 1:37.43 - Viktoria Pier-Marie 1:39.39 - Anatoliy Kucherena 1:48.15 - Masha Tsigal (first time driving a manual car and wet track) 1:55.17 - Elena Zakharova N/A - Alexei Mitrofanov (could not drive a manual car, remained Stig's passenger)

Cool Wall

Introduced in episode 2 of season 1, the cool wall mirrors the popular segment from the UK original.

List of Top Gear Russia episodes

! Series # !! Episode # !! Title !! Reviews !! Challenge !! Guest !! Original airdate 1 1 Series 01, Episode 01 Mazda Miata vs. 1985 Porsche 911 vs. Range Rover Sport Get to Vasilevsky Ostrov in a Porsche Boxster against a Powerboat in St. Petersburg Albert Demchenko, Karina Koks, Yury Grymov, Masha Tsigal and Alexei Mitrofanov 1 2 Series 01, Episode 02 Porsche 911 Cabrio B Turbo vs. Aston Martin V8 Roadster Vantage Used cars for 20,000 rubles [400 GBP] [666.96 USD] Alexander Marshal 1 3 Series 01, Episode 03 BMW Alpina B3 BiTurbo Coupe 2007 Ford Mustang vs. 1964 Ford Mustang GAZ-66 is being stress-tested in heavy conditions Nikas Safronov 1 4 Series 01, Episode 04 Aston Martin DBS Car stunts challenge in a VAZ 21099 Samara Dmitry Nosov 1 5 Series 01, Episode 05 Ferrari 550 Maranello Jaguar X-Type Estate Who can earn the most money as a taxi driver GAZ-66 is set on fire and drowned and still works Nepara 1 6 Series 01, Episode 06 Lamborghini Gallardo Alfa Romeo MiTo vs. Mini Cooper S Fomenko works as a Limo Driver in a Hummer H2 Stretched Limousine Anatoliy Kucherena 1 7 Series 01, Episode 07 Audi R8 The guys test out the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class, Audi Q7 and the Range Rover by driving to Suzdal for Maslenitsa Elena Zakharova 1 8 Series 01, Episode 08 Fiat 500 "Girly" cars test; Opel Corsa and the Toyota Yaris Valerii Nikolaev 1 9 Series 01, Episode 09 Opel Monza Volvo XC90 vs Ferrari F430, Volga Roadster Irakliy 1 10 Series 01, Episode 10 Nissan GT-R Nissan Silvia for drifting Maria Rumyanceva 1 11 Series 01, Episode 11 - Winter adventures: Hummer H3 vs snowmobile and dog sled Denis Simachev 1 12 Series 01, Episode 12 Smart Fortwo and Lexus RX400h Land Rover Defender SVX vs UAZ Hunter Victoria Pier-Marie 1 13 Series 01, Episode 13 Bentley Continental GT Speed and BMW 7 Series Top Gear Awards Seryoga 1 14 Series 01, Episode 14 - Best bits of the series - 1 15 Series 01, Episode 15 - Best bits of the series -

External links

• 'Top Gear' format heads to Russia