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Episode 5

Top Gear Series 21
Episode 5 of 7

Richard Hammond is in Abu Dhabi to drive a new hybrid sports car from Porsche. Jeremy Clarkson judges a hot hatchback showdown between a Volkswagen Golf GTI and the BMW M135i.

Richard Hammond is in Abu Dhabi to drive a new hybrid sports car from Porsche. It is called the 918 and it combines a 4.6-litre V8 petrol engine with a pair of electric motors to create an 886 horsepower, four-wheel drive supercar sensation. Hammond takes a nocturnal trip to the famous Yas Marina Grand Prix to see if the 918 has what it takes to beat McLaren's hybrid hypercar, the P1. Although the two cars have yet to go head to head, there is much riding on the outcome since if the German machine proves to be faster around the Top Gear track than its British rival, Jeremy Clarkson has promised to change his name to Jennifer.

Also in this show, Clarkson and James May are tasked with shooting a public information film to promote safer cycling. Along the way, the pair create some hard-hitting imagery, take a 'fact-finding' ride around the streets of London, and present their film-making efforts to an expert panel featuring bigwigs from Westminster Council and Olympic gold medal-winning cycling legend Chris Boardman.

Elsewhere in the programme, Clarkson is also the judge for a hot hatchback showdown between the latest iteration of the legendary Volkswagen Golf GTI and a powerful, rear-wheel-drive pretender from BMW called the M135i.

Finally, there is an American in the Reasonably Priced Car as Aaron Paul, star of Breaking Bad and Need for Speed, tries his hand in the Astra out on the test track.

Available now

1 hour, 1 minute

Last on

Thu 29 Jan 2026 01:35
BBC Three

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Clips

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Abel Korzeniowski

    Clock Tick 

    From the A Single Man soundtrack

  • 00:01

    AWOLNATION

    Sail 

  • 00:02

    UNKLE

    Follow Me Down 

  • 00:02

    James Jandrisch 

    The Cement Works 

  • 00:02

    Reinhold Heil

    The Fiennes Hit

  • 00:03

    The Pigeon Detectives

    Done In Secret 

  • 00:04

    The Last Shadow Puppets

    The Age Of The Understatement 

  • 00:05

    UNKLE

    Ever Rest (feat. Joel Cadbury)

  • 00:06

    Röyksopp

    Vision One 

  • 00:06

    Roni Size / Reprazent

    Brown Paper Bag

  • 00:07

    The Dust Brothers

    Corporate World 

  • 00:07

    UNKLE

    Natural Selection 

  • 00:08

    Battle

    The Longest Time 

  • 00:09

    Cliff Martinez

    We're Neighbours 

  • 00:11

    Ay-kherel 

    Dyngylday 

  • 00:11

    Ay-kherel 

    Baezhin 

  • 00:11

    Ay-kherel 

    Dyngylday 

  • 00:11

    Ay-kherel 

    Baezhin 

  • 00:19

    The xx

    Islands

  • 00:20

    Daniel Seguin 

    15 Years Later (Now And Forever) 

  • 00:21

    Steve Isles

    A Gift For Stella 

  • 00:22

    The xx

    Islands

  • 00:23

    Peace

    Lovesick 

  • 00:24

    Steve Isles

    Coat Sellers 1 

  • 00:24

    David Holmes

    Benedict Returns 

    From the Oceans 13 soundtrack

  • 00:26

    The Dust Brothers

    Corporate World 

  • 00:29

    Cliff Martinez

    Bride Of Deluxe 

  • 00:30

    Steve Isles

    The Councillor 

  • 00:31

    C2C

    Le Banquet 

  • 00:32

    David Holmes

    Kensington Chump 

    From the Oceans 13 soundtrack

  • 00:32

    James Newton Howard

    Back To The Unit 

    From the Duplicity soundtrack

  • 00:34

    John Lennon

    Imagine

  • 00:36

    Cliff Martinez

    Bride Of Deluxe 

  • 00:48

    Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard

    Nycteris 

    From the Batman Begins soundtrack

  • 00:48

    The Invisible

    What Happened 

  • 00:49

    David Arnold

    God Rest His Soul 

    Performer: Michael Price.

    From the Sherlock soundtrack

  • 00:49

    John Murphy

    Tower Block 

    From the 28 Days Later soundtrack

  • 00:50

    David Arnold

    God Rest His Soul 

    Performer: Michael Price.

    From the Sherlock soundtrack

  • 00:51

    Hans Zimmer

    Myotis (Myctis) 

    Composer: James Newton Howard.

    From the Batman Begins soundtrack

  • 00:51

    Depeche Mode

    Long Time Lie 

  • 00:52

    Depeche Mode

    Alone 

  • 00:53

    John Murphy

    Strobe (Tyler Barton Remix) 

    Remix Artist: Tyler Barton.
  • 00:54

    Deadly Avenger

    Reign 

  • 00:54

    The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra

    Welcome To Lunar Industries 

  • 00:55

    Depeche Mode

    Child Inside 

  • 00:55

    David Arnold

    East Wind 

    Performer: Michael Price.

    From the Sherlock soundtrack

  • 00:56

    David Arnold

    Floating Dust 

    Performer: Michael Price.

    From the Sherlock soundtrack

Credits

Presenter Jeremy Clarkson
Presenter Richard Hammond
Presenter James May
Executive Producer Andy Wilman
Participant Aaron Paul

Broadcasts

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