Top Gear series 3

Series 3 of Top Gear, a British motoring magazine and factual television programme, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two during 2003, consisting of nine episodes between 26 October and 28 December; a compilation episode featuring the best moments of the series, titled "Best of Top Gear", was aired on 4 January 2004.
This series saw racing driver Ben Collins replace Perry McCarthy - which included a change of clothing to create White Stig - with McCarthy performing his last role in the first episode. It is also notable for a feature involving the fourth generation Toyota Hilux being put through a series of destructive tests of its engineering strength; this later garnered criticism from a local council for the damage it caused during filming of the segment. For this series the insider dealing segment seen in the first two series dropped with further emphasis placed on challenge segments.

Episodes

Criticism

Following the broadcast of the fifth episode of the 3rd series, the BBC was contacted by the Churchill Parish in Somerset in regards to the tree that featured in the segment where Clarkson was proving the sturdiness and reliability of the Toyota Hilux. Up until the episode had been broadcast, villagers had presumed that the damage had been done accidentally or by vandals, until they watched what had happened on the show. After the BBC was contacted, the director of Top Gear admitted guilt and the broadcaster paid compensation.