Top Gear 'tried to set fire to their cars in Argentina for dramatic effect'

BBC's Top Gear team wanted to burn their sports cars for "dramatic effect" as they fled Argentina when they were attacked by angry protesters, diplomats in the country claim.

In a report by Argentine police, officers claim that Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May tried to set fire to their cars to give the impression that they were forced to flee torched vehicles for footage used in an episode, to be aired this Christmas.

According to The Independent, Alicia Castro, Argentina's ambassador to the UK, wrote to the chair of the BBC Trust, demanding that the BBC takes further action against Clarkson.

The police report, seen by The Independent, confirms that Clarkson's Porsche with the registration H982 FKL, which locals considered a taunting reference to the 1982 Falklands War was changed before the team were forced to exit.

Clarkson claimed the number plate was a "coincidence" but now Castro has said it was a "malicious mockery" of those who fought in the war.

The report states that as the team tried to flee, a lorry "started moving towards the road in such a way as to bring about a collision with the Top Gear crew's first vehicle".

Police officers stopped the truck and the team were able to get out of the country safely.

According to the Daily Mail, the Top Gear team said their priority was to abandon their cars and escape, but Argentine police say they tried to set their cars alight.

In the letter to the BBC Trust, Ms Castro wrote that the decision to burn the cars was "alarming and illegal". She added: "Why would the team possibly want to burn such expensive BBC property?"

A Top Gear source said it was "nonsense".

Related articles

Jeremy Clarkson gets points on licence for speeding

Jeremy Clarkson 'fabricated' Argentine dangers says envoy