Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was not trying to break the British land speed record when he crashed at high speed, organisers said today.

Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond was in a stable condition in hospital today after being involved in a high-speed car crash while filming an apparent attempt to break the British land speed record.

A British team in the US will try to break the speed record for electric-powered cars weighing more than 2,200 pounds, using a vehicle that has 52 batteries and no mechanical gears.