Witness James May Crash a Mitsubishi Evo Against a Tunnel Wall

The adventurous special had James May, Richard Hammond, and Jeremy Clarkson embarking on a road trip through Scandinavia. The threesome drove all-wheel-drive sedans for the rally-themed film, with May’s Evo accompanied by Hammond’s Subaru Impreza WRX STI and Clarkson’s Audi RS4. Predictably, a debate ensued on which car was the fastest, to be settled through a competition. Each would speed their car down a tunnel at the Olavsvern naval base in Norway to determine the ultimate winner.

However, a single dilemma arose—the tunnel led to a dead-end. It was dimly lit, with illumination appearing just in front of the moving car within the tunnel for added dramatic effect. Green lights illuminated the path during each car’s run, while red lights at the conclusion pointed out the wall.

Driving the Evo, May accelerated to 78 mph but regrettably failed to brake in time. Instead, he swerved the car sideways in an effort to avoid the wall, colliding broadside rather than head-on. The impact was severe, causing May’s head to slam into the car’s B-pillar with various items being thrown around the cabin. Thankfully, May managed to exit the car unaided and was taken to a hospital for examinations. He suffered a broken rib in the incident but was able to rejoin the journey in the subsequent days.

The car sustained significant damage along its right-hand side. The radiator leaked, intercooler pipes collapsed, and the oil cooler was severely bent. Despite the extensive damage, the car miraculously could be repaired and continue its journey.

The incident raises questions about safety protocols on The Grand Tour set. Approaching a wall at full speed seems inherently unsafe. Doing so in street cars without basic safety elements like helmets or HANS devices is reckless. The presence of loose objects bouncing within the cabin only added to the danger. Fortunately, during the crash, nothing heavier than a glove struck May on the head.

Few contemporary workplaces would endorse such a stunt without appropriate precautions. It appears that The Grand Tour production leans towards a more Clarksonian mindset, prioritizing bravado and “common sense” over health and safety. However, common sense would normally advise against accelerating toward a cave wall without protective headgear.

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