Jenson Button on Top Gear tonight

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Update: Button fails to improve on Top Gear lap

Jenson Button returns to BBC’s Top Gear tonight for the first time since winning the world championship.

And it’s clear from the pictures from the show he faces a ribbing about finishing runner-up in the Sports Personality of the Year awards last week.

He last appeared on the show in 2006. Top Gear fans will remember that racing drivers who appear on the show compete in a special category of the regular “Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car” feature, where they have to drive a Suzuki Liana around the track.

Ahead of his appearance tomorrow Button ranks third overall with a 1’44.7, tied with new McLaren team mate Lewis Hamilton – though Hamilton set his time on a wet track.

Top Gear’s anonymous Stig holds the lap record with a 1’44.4, ahead of Nigel Mansell’s 1’44.6. Michael Schumacher appeared on the show earlier this year dressed as the Stig, but didn’t set a time on the track.

Will Button finally knock the Stig off the top spot? British viewers can tune in at 8pm tomorrow on BBC2 to find out.

Thanks to ryanmack09 for the tip.

F1 drivers on Top Gear

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Keith Collantine
Lifelong motor sport fan Keith set up RaceFans in 2005 - when it was originally called F1 Fanatic. Having previously worked as a motoring...

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20 comments on “Jenson Button on Top Gear tonight”

  1. Looks like the track conditions are similar to Hamilton’s. Could be interesting!

    1. well lewis’s wet time matched buttons original dry time…

      1. Yeah, I’d like to see Lewis do it again in teh dry. He was going to but it rained again :( He’d have smashed the Stig

  2. Difficult to compare the Formula One drivers, really. By all accounts Mansell showed up with his helicopter, had a good look at the track, and got plenty of practice in.

    If conditions are wet for Button’s second run, then comparisons will undoubtedly be made with Hamilton. But as motorsport fans we all know it’s not that simple – a little more/less rain can make a big difference to lap times.

  3. Sebastien Carter
    20th December 2009, 1:46

    Also, according to wikipedia (not the most reliable source I know), the last episodes of the current series has the pairing of David Coulthard and Martin Brundle as well, which should be extremely interesting to see who is the fastest in the reasonably priced car, if they do it!

    1. If that’s true, then this is the moment I personally have been longing for: seeing Brundle on TG. :) It should be VERY interesting.

  4. It doesn’t really matter who is faster with the reasonable priced car. It has nothing to do with how you drive an F1 car. It’s just for fan. Hey in this kind of things even one of us could beat them.

    1. Good luck with that one

  5. Sad that I won’t be able to watch it,hope you tube will have some clips.

    1. why not download it?

      1. Mouse_Nightshirt
        20th December 2009, 9:05

        Because that would technically be illegal.

        iPlayer?

        1. dont think so, its on free air TV, isnt it?

  6. Coulthard and Brundle are also on on the 3rd jan

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Gear_%28series_14%29

  7. Hasn’t Button already ‘had a go’?

    If the Coulthard and Brundle thing is right then im guessing they will be driving they new chevvy and not the suzuki?

    I want Hamilton to come back when its dryy!!

    1. No all the F1 drivers are still using the old suzuki I think, Otherwise Brundle and Coulthard will have a advantage

  8. Top Gear starting now…

  9. Button 2 Seconds slower than LH in similar wet condition. that must hurt!

  10. Sorry I meant to say “Button 2 tenth of a second slower than LH in similar wet condition” and not 2 seconds

  11. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been spotted during testing, and the SUV wasn’t wearing any of the camouflage we’re used to seeing. Even more surprising, engineers weren’t putting the truck through its paces out at Moab. Instead, the eagle-eyed crew over at Piston Spy nabbed a few shots of the Grand Cherokee as it was making laps of the Nurburgring.

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