Top Gear Festival Barbados

Top Gear Festival will make its Americas debut on the Caribbean island of Barbados at the newly renovated Bushy Park Circuit on 17-18 May, 2014. Hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, Top Gear Festival Barbados will feature an awe-inspiring line up of cars and driving talent including The Stig, the Top Gear Stunt Team and guest drivers from the world of motorsport and entertainment. Stars will take to the track in a series of Top Gear style stunts and features for the action packed weekend. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Bushy Park as the circuit reopens for the first time since its renovation by Bushy Park Circuit Inc, the developer and local promoter of the event.

Richard Sealy, Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Barbados: commented: "The realisation of this dream has been a long time coming. Barbados is already the base for the celebrated Sol Rally Barbados, which has seen the cream of the crop of the rally world compete on our island's roads and hosting Top Gear Festival, now places Barbados firmly at the heart of Caribbean motor sport. We have identified events and niches that are integral to the viability of our industry and Top Gear Festival ticks these boxes. Essential plans and actions are well on track for the project with Bushy Park Circuit promising to be the perfect venue. We look forward to welcoming a wide audience to the island with fans expected to travel from the UK, North America, Europe, Caribbean and Brazil."

Previous Top Gear Live events have seen Jeremy, Richard and James play host to famous faces including Mark Webber, who set the Sydney Motorsport Park lap record in the Red Bull Racing Formula 1 car, two-time MotoGP World Champion Casey Stoner, two-time Formula 1 World Champion Mika Hakkinen, rally driver Ken Block, F1 race winner David Coulthard, F1 World Champion Jody Scheckter and larger-than-life F1 personality Eddie Jordan. To date Top Gear Live events have been seen by over 1.8 million visitors, with the show travelling to 21 cities in 15 countries.

Firmly established as the greatest motoring theatre show in the world, Top Gear Live events have featured a number of jaw-dropping stunts including the world's first indoor loop-the-loop which earned the show a Guinness World Record, an F1 ice-cream van, a heart-stopping 300ft car bungee and a fleet of flaming 911 Porsches.

Next year's Top Gear Festival, Barbados is expected to attract tens of thousands of petrol heads keen to see the world famous presenters, guest drivers and celebrities in action and take part in this true celebration of all things motoring. Visitors are encouraged to book early so as not to miss the most exciting new event on 2014's entertainment and motoring calendar. Bushy Park is a short drive from the island's capital Bridgetown and from the international airport.

James Cooke-Priest, Top Gear Live Chief Operating Officer said; "We are delighted to be working with the Barbados Tourism Authority and Bushy Park Circuit Inc. following their extensive efforts to secure a Top Gear Festival for 2014. Having enjoyed successes in many countries around the world we're looking forward to playing a major part in the re-launch of the Bushy Park Circuit in May, and being an annual fixture on the Barbados motor sport calendar as the new circuit gains global recognition. Top Gear Festival, Barbados joins an extensive calendar of events for 2014 with dates already announced in the UK, Australia & South Africa. Further destinations are in development and will be announced in the New Year.'

The official event website and online ticket sales will go live in mid-January at www.topgearfestivalbarbados.com