Above: Top Gear hosts James May and Jeremy Clarkson at a previous Top Gear Live event (Photo: Top Gear)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Barbados will be hosting the live Top Gear Festival in May 2014, the Tourism Authority announced.

The festival, which will take place at the Busy Park Circuit on May 17 and 18, will be led by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, who host what is one of the world’s most popular television programmes.

“The realization of this dream has been a long time coming.  Barbados is already the base for the celebrated Sol Rally Barbados, which has seen the cream of the crop of the rally world compete on our island’s roads and hosting Top Gear Festival, now places Barbados firmly at the heart of Caribbean motorsport,” Barbados Tourism Minister Richard Sealy said.

“Top Gear Live” festivals have already been hosted in 21 cities in 15 different countries.

“We look forward to welcoming a wide audience to the island with fans expected to travel from the UK, North America, Europe, Caribbean and Brazil,” Sealy said.

Organizers say the festival could attract “tens of thousands” of attendees. Previous festivals have included indoor loop-the-loops, car bungee jumps and flaming Porsche 911s, among other stunts.

“We are delighted to be working with the Barbados Tourism Authority and the Bushy Park Circuit following their extensive efforts to secure a Top Gear Festival for 2014,” said James Cooke-Priest, Top Gear Live Operating Officer. “Having enjoyed successes in many countries around the world we’re looking forward to playing a major part in the re-launch of Bushy Park Circuit in May, and being an annual fixture in the Barbados motorsport calendar as the new circuit gains global recognition.”