‘Fearless’ TV presenter badly hurt in jet car crash
Mr Hammond, who often drives high-performance cars as part of presenting the show, has been taken to hospital following the incident at an airfield near York.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman confirmed the accident happened on Elvington airfield, seven miles to the south-east of the city.
He said the presenter was filming an episode of Top Gear at the time.
It is believed Mr Hammond was attempting to break a land speed record involving a jet-powered car at up to 280mph (450km/h).
James May, who co-presents the popular motor show with Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson, said he was devastated to learn his “old mate” had been injured.
His agent, Annie Sweetbaum, said: “James is absolutely devastated, he’s heard the news, but doesn’t know how bad he is.
“He’s really shocked, his words to me tonight were ‘He’s such a good mate, I’m so upset’. He said as soon as he’s allowed, he wants to go and see Richard.”
Former Top Gear presenter Quentin Willson said one of Mr Hammond’s best qualities was that he has “no fear”.
He told BBC News 24: “It does sound very serious. It is a huge, huge tragedy. He is a wonderful, unique and distinctive Top Gear presenter.
“He has brought an awful lot to the programme and his indefatigable energy, the fact that he tries absolutely anything once, may have been the reason that he has overstepped the mark a bit.
“He is irreplaceable. He has turned Top Gear into a gang show and Jeremy and James and the three of them have wowed audiences all over the world, and he is an international personality.
“We all hope that he is going to get better very soon indeed. This underscores the danger of raising the game as shows like Top Gear have.
“Richard has no fear and that is his most wonderful quality.”
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