Season 24

Earlier this year, Tiff Needell and Tony Mason joined a remarkable collection of sports racing cars assembled on the Ecurie Ecosse Historic Motor Tour of Scotland. Vauxhall’s new Calibra is a sleek four-seater performance coupe. Radio Times’s motoring columnist Chris Goffey assesses how well it fills the gap left by the Ford Capri. Traffic congestion can turn serious accidents into fatal ones by delaying medical help. Helicopters have proved a cost-effective answer in Germany. Presented by William Woollard from the Midland Motor Museum in Shropshire.

William Woollard and Sue Baker report from the prestigious Paris Motor Show on what’s new on the stands. Radio Times’ motoring columnist Chris Goffey road-tests the new Renault Clio and looks at some of the ways French motoring retains its individuality.

Hispano Suiza is a make of car more exclusive even than Rolls-Royce. The company stopped making them over 50 years ago so it is rare today to see even one in public. Willie Rushton accompained 40 of these elegant reminders of a bygone age and their equally distinctive owners on a nostalgic visit to their native Spain.

William Woollard presents the programme from the Motor Industry Research Association in Warwickshire, used by many of the world’s motor manufacturers to develop their new models. Tiff Needell explores the different ways cars behave in emergency situations, Jeremy Clarkson tests the new model Ford Escort and Tony Mason joins former motorsport stars Paddy Hopkirk, Stirling Moss and Roger Clark on the 1990 Pirelli Classic Marathon.

Next month, RAF technician Will Brown competes in the Lombard RAC Rally as part of his prize for winning the Radio Times Rally Quest competition. Tony Mason watches his final preparations during the Audi Sport International in mid-Wales. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey assesses the impact of Toyota’s new luxury car, Lexus, and Jeremy Clarkson reviews the 80th anniversary of the Alfa Romeo marque.

William Woollard reports from the Sunderland factory where the new Nissan Primera is made and Jeremy Clarkson puts it through its paces. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey looks at the latest attempts to build intelligent cars which avoid accidents and Tony Mason visits a car museum in the south of France.

Jeremy Clarkson tests three golden oldies: the Audi Quattro, the Volvo 240 Estate, and the Jaguar XJS. Radio Times columnist Chris Goffey takes the wheel of a rally-prepared Mini for the Telford Stages Rally, a round of the Top Gear Heritage Historic Rally Championship, and Beki Adam looks at the history of the Chevrolet Corvette.

Tony Mason reports on Paul Stewart — son of Jackie — who runs his own team, competing in Formula Vauxhall Lotus, Formula 3 and Formula 3000; Radio Times contributor Chris Goffey tests the VW Caravelle and the Toyota Previa; and the new proposals for testing exhaust emissions in the MOT.

Next Sunday, the 1990 Lombard RAC Rally starts in Harrogate. William Woollard previews the action and Tony Mason meets the new world rally champion, Carlos Sainz. Honda’s new supercar, the NSX, combines technical innovation and startling performance. Tiff Needell assesses whether it will become a real rival to Porsche and Ferrari. And Radio Times contributor Chris Goffey visits the Monteverdi Museum in Switzerland to take a look at some of the beautiful vehicles which have borne that name.

On Sunday, 180 competitors started at Harrogate in this year’s Lombard RAC Rally. Drivers have been battling through the tough forest stages in the north of England and the Scottish Borders. William Woollard, Alan Douglas and Tony Mason report on this last event in the 1990 world rallying calendar.