Top Gear Live tour takes off!

TopGear.com decamped down to Dunsfold yesterday to a) check the Top Gear track is still there (it is), and b) catch up with Jeremy and James as they announced details of this year's Top Gear Live World Tour to the world's press.

Coming soon is a great video with the guys inside the 747 - featuring the concept of locating Richard Hammond in foreign cities via the medium of pornography - but for now, the pertinent details are thus...

Stars of the this year's show include the first ever transparent car, Porsches transformed beyond all recognition and a custom made 'Godzilla' Nissan GT-R going head to head with a police helicopter. Indoors.

And the confirmed dates:

London, Earls Court: 4-7 Nov 2010
Birmingham, NEC: 11-14 Nov 2010
Dublin, CityWest Event Centre: 26-28 Nov 2010
Brisbane, Brisbane Entertainment Centre: 3-6 Mar 2011
Melbourne, Melbourne Showgrounds: 11-14 Mar 2011
Jo'burg, Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit: 17-20 Mar 2011
Oslo, venue tbc: 24-27 Mar 2011

"Car stunt shows used to involve standing in rain-soaked concrete car parks watching men in branded hats driving round in circles", said Jezza. "But Top Gear Live continues to prove that proper theatre with cars is possible and yet again, we've pushed the boundaries of car theatre for this 'Prototype Tour'.

"It's ambitious, but for once, it isn't complete rubbish".

Oh, and the reason Richard was absent was he got the wrong place. "He thought we said Dublin when we actually said Dunsfold", Jezza explained.

Head this way to book your tickets - they're going fast...