Exploring Top Gear: The Bolivia Special

The Bolivia Special is the sixth episode of the fourteenth series of Top Gear, which aired on 27 December 2009. In this episode, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May attempt a 1,000-mile journey from the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia to the Pacific Ocean. They are equipped with second-hand 4x4s bought from the local small ads for a maximum of £3,500 each. The presenters encounter various challenges along the way, including dealing with deadly insects, navigating tough terrain, and facing the dangers of the infamous Death Road.

The hosts' vehicles

The Bolivia Special is the sixth episode of the fourteenth series of Top Gear, which aired on 27 December 2009. In this episode, hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May are dropped into the Bolivian rainforest and tasked with a 1,000-mile journey from the Amazon to the Pacific Ocean coast of Chile.

For this challenge, the hosts bought second-hand off-road vehicles locally in Bolivia, with a budget of £3,500 each. Clarkson, Hammond, and May ended up with a Range Rover, a Suzuki SJ 40, and a Toyota Land Cruiser, respectively.

The hosts encountered various challenges and obstacles throughout their journey, including getting their vehicles off a river raft, dealing with snakes and insects, and making minor car modifications to cross a river. They also had to contend with the dangers of the infamous Death Road, known for its narrowness and sheer drops, while experiencing the effects of high altitude.

Despite the challenges, the hosts pushed through and managed to complete most of the journey, with Clarkson's Range Rover ultimately being declared the winning car.

The Amazon Rainforest

In the Top Gear Bolivia Special, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May embarked on a challenging journey through a small part of the Amazon Rainforest in Bolivia. They began their adventure deep in the rainforest, where they purchased second-hand 4x4 vehicles for no more than £3,500 each. They encountered various obstacles, including difficult terrain, insects, snakes, and the dangers of the infamous Death Road. Their journey took them from the heart of Bolivia to the Pacific coast of Chile, covering approximately 1,000 miles of rugged landscapes and testing both their driving skills and their vehicles to the limit.

The Death Road

During their journey, they climbed into the Andes to La Paz along the infamous Yungas Road, or Death Road. James May, who suffers from a fear of heights, warned his co-presenters not to perform their usual running gag of ramming into the back of his car. However, a momentary lapse in concentration caused Jeremy Clarkson to hit the back of May's car by accident. May stopped and angrily threatened Clarkson with a machete.

The Top Gear Bolivia Special is considered by the presenters as the best episode in the show's history. It is known for its stunning cinematography, capturing the beauty and danger of the Death Road, as well as the presenters' humour and camaraderie.

The challenges faced

The Bolivia Special is the sixth episode of the fourteenth series of Top Gear, aired in 2009. It features Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May travelling 1,000 miles (1,600 km) through South America from the Amazon rainforest in Bolivia to the Pacific coast of Chile.

The three presenters were dropped in the Bolivian rainforest and had to buy second-hand 4x4 off-road vehicles from the local small ads for a maximum of £3,500 each. They had to escape from the deep, dark centre of the rainforest and then make their way through the rugged terrain, deadly insects, and tough rainforest undergrowth.

One of the biggest challenges they faced was the infamous Death Road, also known as the El Camino de la Muerte, which is known for its narrowness and sheer drops. The road posed a particularly dangerous challenge for James May, who struggles with a fear of heights. The high altitude also took a toll on the presenters, causing severe hypoxia, which results in weakness, drunken-type feelings, and reduced power in their cars.

Another challenge was crossing a river, which required some creative waterproofing with products like tampons, Vaseline, and condoms. They also had to make a tricky crossing over a gully, which resulted in James May's car ending up in the gully and requiring a winch to get back to the starting point.

The presenters also encountered angry locals, snakes, and the extreme danger of driving on narrow roads with sheer drops. In addition, they had to deal with car troubles, including a broken winch, a lost wheel, and engine troubles.

The winning vehicle

The Bolivia Special is the sixth episode of the fourteenth series of Top Gear, which aired on the 27th of December, 2009. In this episode, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May embarked on a 1,000-mile journey through Bolivia and Chile. The three presenters started their journey in the Amazon rainforest, where they were left with three second-hand off-road vehicles: a Range Rover, a Suzuki SJ 40, and a Toyota Land Cruiser. Each car was purchased locally in Bolivia for less than £3,500.

The Range Rover played a crucial role in the journey, especially during the early stages when Richard Hammond had to use it to pull Jeremy out of the mud in the Bolivian river. The Range Rover also faced its own set of challenges, such as having to be modified to cross a river and struggling to maintain control while descending a very steep sand dune towards the end of the journey.

Despite the challenges, the Range Rover demonstrated its resilience and reliability by becoming the only car to reach the final destination. The Suzuki SJ 40, driven by James May, also completed the journey but was described as having a "very rough ride". Meanwhile, the Toyota Land Cruiser, driven by Richard Hammond, did not make it to the finish line due to mechanical issues and losing a wheel.

Overall, the Range Rover's performance in the Bolivia Special showcased its ability to withstand tough conditions and its reliability in comparison to the other vehicles. This victory added a unique accomplishment to the Range Rover's reputation as a capable and enduring vehicle.

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