The test track at Dunsfold’s Aerodrome in the United Kingdom was the defining location of Top Gear. While much of the presenting took place in a studio, a large chunk of the testing, lapping, and tomfoolery we remember most happened at the fabled airstrip-turned-road course.
Used from 2002 as a primary filming location for the show, the Aerodrome faces an uncertain future. In 2018, rumors circulated that the track would be demolished to make room for a new residential housing project. And while development has begun at the opposite end of the airfield, the 1.9-mile track should remain operational at least through 2026, according to RadioTimes.com.
In the wake of that uncertainty, former Top Gear hosts James May and Richard Hammond thought it a good time to revisit the legendary location and reminisce on their experiences. While the Aerodrome is best-known for the Stig’s timed “Power Laps,” the show also used Dunsfold for a variety of reviews, features, and comparisons.
Production of Top Gear was put on hold in 2023 “for the foreseeable future” after host Freddie Flintoff rolled a Morgan 3-Wheeler at Dunsfold while filming, resulting in serious injury. The BBC later reached a settlement with Flintoff reportedly worth $11.3 million at the time.
“We know resting the show will be disappointing news for fans, but it is the right thing to do,” the BBC said in its 2023 statement. “All other Top Gear activity remains unaffected by this hiatus, including international formats, digital, magazines, and licensing.”
In fact, Top Gear Magazine in the UK still uses the Aerodrome for timed laps with the Stig, the publication’s masked racing driver. As of this writing, the record is held by the McMurtry Spéirling fan car, with a time of 55.9 seconds—making it quicker than even an F1 car.
