Top Gear drives into friendly territory

Top Gear made enemies in Argentina with a not-so-subtle number plate.

After its infamous trip to Argentina last year, the world's largest motoring programme, Top Gear UK, will find a friendly reception when it begins screening here.

The 10-part series and the two-part Argentina special, which recently aired in the UK, will be exclusively available on TV3 from tomorrow night.

Presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May, Top Gear has a global audience estimated at over 350 million in 214 territories.

In Top Gear's Christmas special the team travelled though Argentina in three old sports cars. Clarkson's Porsche 928 bore the number plate H982 FKL, which locals interpreted as a reference to the 1982 Falklands War.

They maintain it was a coincidence. Not everyone was convinced, and they were forced to flee the country, with a police escort staving off angry gangs.

Mark Caulton, TV3's director of programming, says: "Top Gear is ... hugely popular with audiences all around the world and we're tremendously excited about its arrival at TV3.

The series represents a 'marquee' addition to our stellar line-up for 2015 and demonstrates our commitment to deliver the very best entertainment content for our audience."

Irene Read, director of TV sales at BBC Worldwide ANZ, says: "This is a great partnership between two strong entertainment brands and I'm delighted that TV3 will be the home of Top Gear in New Zealand going forward."