Field stunt hits Top Gear site

A CONTROVERSIAL video showing a Nissan Micra being jumped dangerously from field to field over a West Cork public road has now been uploaded to the popular Top Gear website.

During the 17 second clip which emerged on video-sharing website YouTube several weeks ago, the small red car is seen driving at speed down a steep hill in a field, then leaping through a raised gap in a ditch, over the public road, and passing through a gap in trees across the road before landing in another field and driving off. A person standing close to the ditch appears to be keeping watch and jumps out of the way as the car approaches its take-off.

Onlookers can be heard laughing and calling for the stunt to be repeated.

When it emerged on Youtube, “Dukes of Hazard, Clonakilty” was described by the Road Safety Authority as “dangerous and irresponsible”. Gardaí investigated the clip and are preparing a file for the DPP after interviewing a man in connection with it.

There were concerns that the jump had been performed over a section of the main N71 road in Clonakilty.

However, gardaí confirmed they had viewed the clip and had identified and visited the location which was a minor public road.

Now top-rated television show Top Gear’s website has posted the video on its pages and makes light of the content.

It says Ireland hasn’t won an Olympic gold medal since 1996 and that “this must change”.

“With the London Olympics just a couple of years away, Top Gear has a cast-iron plan to guarantee Irish gold in 2012: introduce the Nissan Micra Gully Jumping as an official Olympic sport!” it says.

“Provided they follow a stringent dieting regime and, more importantly, don’t kill themselves in a spectacular crashy plunge, these lads must surely be the early favourites. They’ll need to put in plenty of practice before 2012, mind.”

The website then asks for other car-based Olympic events that would “boost your country’s medal count”.

People posting messages to the Top Gear site appear impressed by “Dukes of Hazard Clonakilty”. One writes: “Is it just me or is that the best use of a Nissan Micra ever?”

Another posts: “Genius. Absolute genius.”

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