TOP GEAR: Driving dogs set to chauffeur stars James May, Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson

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Published: 31 January 2013

TOP GEAR is to give ambitious dogs an opportunity to demonstrate their speed, handling skills, concentration and intelligence behind the wheel.

In a move to meet the BBC's strict equal opportunities and diversity policy, the world's most famous driving dogs could soon find themselves with a huge British fan following.

Top Gear River Nile Trip

Hammond (bottom), Clarkson (centre) and May (top right) venture to exotic places in this series and it may not be long before the famous dogs from New Zealand meet their human counterparts.
It follows a recent comment by the charming James May, who revealed Top Gear will be filming a segment in New Zealand in March, as the show's trio make a mega-trip to Australia.

The Bristol-born television presenter, who also writes for The Daily Telegraph and this month turned 50, told Australian Associated Press: "I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but we are going to film a little bit but it's going to be in New Zealand."

It is unlikely Porter will be driving the world's smallest car, the P45, which Jeremy Clarkson showcased last Sunday, but instead, a larger, more expensive family or sports car.

Last December, New Zealand's Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) said the Top Gear team had been in touch following the charity's driving dogs campaign, although SPCA's Chief Executive Chris Kalin is keeping it a surprise and did not confirm the news when asked today.

Despite Captain Slow letting it slip that Top Gear are likely to film in New Zealand, Ms Kalin said: "Top Gear have indicated interest in filming the driving dogs but I also have to say that there's been no firm arrangement."

In one of the most effective viral publicity campaigns by an animal welfare charity, three dogs were trained to drive cars un-aided around a racing track. The aim: to transform public perceptions of the intelligence of our rescued canine friends.

Porter, a beardie cross, Monty a giant schnauzer cross and Ginny, a beardie whippet - were given weeks of car driver training. It is thought the dogs can drive better than a significant number of British drivers and are being hailed as an inspiration for road safety.

Both Monty and Porter took the lead and had the opportunity to take sole control of a car on live television.

If the dogs do appear on the show, it is rumoured James May, Richard Hammond or Jeremy Clarkson could be passengers, with the three talented dogs acting as chauffeurs.

Even before Monty, Ginny and Porter succeeded in becoming the Top Gear trio of the canine world, May coincidentally wrote a humorous column in The Daily Telegraph , explaining: "I reckon dogs would rather like driving. I've never met a dog that (who?) isn't a car enthusiast. Dogs bark at cars, chase cars, urinate on cars, like being in cars and like sticking their heads out of car windows. It's only natural that dogs should want to learn to drive cars. I'd like a dog that could drive for me."

It appears Mr May's dream of having 'man's best friend' safely transport him to his destination - while sipping freshly squeezed lemon juice in the rear seat of his Bentley - could soon come true.

THE TEAM.

MONTY:

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