Jeremy Clarkson Voted The Greatest Automotive Icon...In The World

Anyone who has ever loved automobiles would know the name Jeremy Clarkson. Clarkson rose to fame via BBC’s Top Gear, which was, and still is, one of the most popular car shows in the world. He was also known for dipping his toes in plenty of troubled waters, and often found himself in controversies on account of his unfiltered TV persona. Jeremy is currently one of the lead stars on Amazon Prime’s Grand Tour, along with co-hosts Richard Hammond and James May.

Jeremy Clarkson's famous "loser" gesture, which we're sure he must've done after hearing this news

Hyundai recently conducted a survey in the UK, where two thousand British citizens voted for their favourite automotive icons. As expected, Jeremy Clarkson’s fame is certainly big in his home country and, of course, he bags the top honours. The second position was bagged by late Hollywood star Steve McQueen, who was known for his love of fast cars and bikes. He was also a professional motorsports athlete, having raced in 24 hours of Le Mans, 12 hours of Sebring, British Touring Car Championships, Baja 1000, etc., back in his day. The complete result of the survey is given below.

1. Jeremy Clarkson
2. Steve McQueen
3. Richard Hammond
4. Vin Diesel
5. Sir Sean Connery
6. James May
7. Paul Walker
8. Daniel Craig
9. Sir Roger Moore
10. Jason Statham

Richard Hammond and James May take third and sixth positions, respectively, on the list. Late Paul Walker also graces the list, owing to his brilliant work in the ‘Fast and Furious’ movie franchise. It should also be noted that Clarkson, May, and Hammond are the only three people in the list who are not high-profile Hollywood celebrities.

From left to right: James May, Jeremy Clarkson, and Richard Hammond

The primary reason for Jeremy Clarkson’s popularity is his dare-to-do attitude on his shows. Both Top Gear and Grand Tour follow a partly scripted mockumentary format, where he, along with Hammond and May, would set off on ridiculous adventures all over the world. The vehicles they took on these journeys were also the stars of each episode, as were the three hosts. The chemistry and banter between them only helped matters.