Johannesburg – Tighten your seat belt – Top Gear South Africa officially brings one of the most iconic global motoring segments to the local coast. “Affordable Car Star” will premiere on Top Gear South Africa's YouTube channel this April.
Globally praised and hilariously competitive, the segment has revolved around the world. Now they're burning rubber and trying to chase the glory of lap time with a local twist.
In each episode, a prominent South African person watches Benoni's Formula K racecourse. Behind the specially equipped Suzuki Swift handles, it offers the perfect balance of affordability, agility and fun.
Why Jason Goliath?
Because no one is better at bringing jokes, laughs and unfiltered adrenaline than comedian and certified gasoline head Jason Goliath.
His natural talent for storytelling, his authentic love for cars and his unmistakable charisma make Jason the perfect driver in this exhilarating form.
Expect high speed cheer, heartfelt anecdotes, epic tyre cries, and plenty of cheeky commentary.
What is the show?
It's not just a drive. It's about the driver. From the first-ever Clanker to Dream Ride, to the nerves of the track to the turbocharged confidence, viewers get front row seats for intimate (and often outrageous) celebrity interviews, personality-packed rap attempts and thrilling leaderboard action. Everything provided the attitude of top gear in that signature.
Are you using affordable cars?
Hold your helmet, South Africa, as we have a new reasonable priced car for our celebrity hot wraps here.
It's the ideal choice for our star guests: cheap enough to laugh at your accountant, frugal enough to make you probably pass the three of you here and blush the Prius, and it's so much fun to feel all roundabouts like kyalami's hairpins.
However, true top gear fashion does not have stock.
Co Motorsports' Craig O'Donaghue and his crew turn this quick into a truck-responding horror, with ATS gene-stricken sponsored by the build, equipped with OMP bucket seats, six-point roll cages, six-point race harness and helmets to keep the star driver safe.
Don't make any mistakes. This is not quick. It's a more lean and sleazy version built to keep celebrities at limits without mercy.
Nodding to the original British series featuring Suzuki Liana, Swift's inclusion feels perfectly fitting thanks to its dynamic handling and impressive affordability.
track?
Filming will take place at Formula K Racetrack, a world-class facility just outside of Johannesburg. With technical corners, sweep bends and high-speed straights, Formula K is the perfect playground to test your driving skills and extract every ounce of performance from an affordable car.
It's compact enough to keep the action tight yet challenging, and enough to make every rap feel like a showdown.
Who drives the big engine behind the Topgear SA?
The local top gear machines are equipped with media masterminds Avon Middleton and Lelato Matevese.
A veteran producer and multimedia strategist, Avon brings vision and business horsepower. Meanwhile, Lelato, an award-winning automotive journalist, burns the editorial engine as a publishing editor.
Together they built a high-speed, high-performance platform, SA's ultimate automotive content destination.
How are talents chosen?
Guests are carefully chosen for the impact, personality, and passion (or at least soft spots) of the car.
Chart topping musicians, beloved actors, sports icons, cultural game changers, and more, they are invited to not only entertain themselves, but also test their skills, nerves and humor on the track.
Where to catch all the actions:
The episode premieres weekly on the TopGear South Africa YouTube channel, expanding coverage and behind the scenes content across TopGear SA's digital ecosystem, print magazines and social platforms.
Lapboards are updated online, so yes, bragging rights are real.
Subscribe to our Topgear South Africa YouTube channel now, shift SA's most exciting personality shift gears and chase your proud lap times.
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