Top Gear Live 2011 in pictures

If you’ve read our opening night review and followed the buildup on TG.com, you’ll know that this year’s Top Gear Live is up and running. And it’s better than ever: our own indoor track designed by Lotus Motorsport, Stig, Sabine Schmitz and Tiff Needell hosting a one hour track show, and then the three presenters with some prime cocking about as they try and come up with alternative events for the impending London Olympics.

There are still tickets available for the London show on the 24-27 November at ExCel, so click here to find out more.

And in the meantime, here are some highlights from the opening night...

Pictures: Rowan Horncastle / Adam Waddell 

In your FACE, Russell Crowe.

Jeremy throws up the Chipping Norton gang sign.

The best use for a City Rovers so far in history.

No, wait - THIS is the best use of a City Rover so far.

"And IIIIIIIII will always love youuuuuuuuuuu”

Morgan’s answer to KERS.

Stig shouldn’t have had the Madras.

Trousers. Tightened.

This part of the show has to be seen to be believed

...and one of these.

Jeremy ponders the big question: oven pizza or microwave hotpot for tea?

JCBrilliant

The consequences for parking Jeremy in at the NEC

Byzantine sport, presented in the Hammond idiom.

Making engine noises improves this picture

Olympic gold medalist Mark Cavendish and Peta, 23, Essex flank Sitg.

Ben Shepherd: “All I can see is binary”

"Pah! Everyone knows that petrol’s not REALLY flammab….”

Frankly impressive skills from the bikers

Our kind of legal high

GETBACKONTHEBIKEYOUMENTALIST!

You do NOT want to see what James is doing out of shot.

There’s only one thing better than a supercar. 13 supercars.

"I had Jeremy Clarkson in the back last week"

We don’t care that it’s named after a fax machine, we want one…

So – can you name all of these?

Little boy feels Hammond’s pain

The splendid BMW 1M Coupe enters the arena…

…closely followed by the Stig in one of AMG’s finest

Porsches drag off

Just a dab of oppo…

Steer left, turn right

And now, pray silence for some Group B rally legends

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Yes, that thing on the roof is definitely necessary to keep these things on the track

That close to the barrier, it’s loud. Trust us

Normally found on sand, equally at home at the NEC

Stig. Happy

Stig. Still happy

Tiff introduces Mark Cavendish to our Reasonably Priced Car

Son of F1 legend leads kart race

Freddie Hunt, Alex Brundle, Sam Brabham and Lewis Hamilton's brother Nic

A glimpse backstage at our dream garage

Can you name all these?

For the first time in his life, Lambo feels upstaged

Which would you choose?

 The most-requested picture of the day…

Gold ticket members stock up on desktop wallpapers

Caged Merc. Don't feed it

Now you too can warm your buttocks on these legendary seats…

The greatest car in the world sports innovative roof rack

Ambitious. Rubbish

Back from ‘Nam

Nobody has beaten Vettel’s time yet…

Ford Foci: startling 

Outside the arena, scores of pizza delivery boys are left without transport.

James’ new daily driver.

Hold on a second – where’s the Ferrari badge?

We don’t care that it’s named after a fax machine, we want one…

Richard indulges his predilection for flightless airport marshalling.