- The Grand Tour pitches its travelling studio in Kakslauttanen, Finland, deep within the Arctic Circle. In this show, Richard Hammond is very excited by the UK arrival of the very first Ford Mustang to be made in right-hand-drive and then very annoyed when Jeremy Clarkson turns up with a Ford Focus RS loudly claiming that it's better. Meanwhile, James May recounts the epic battle between Ford and Ferrari for supremacy in the Le Mans endurance race of the 1960s. Plus, the presenters have some Christmas gift suggestions for the car enthusiast.
- The trio set up their tent for a festive episode, within the forests of Saariselkä, Finland. Clarkson suggests that Finland has all the world's top racing drivers but has no famous women as they move to England when they are 19, to become Au Pairs.
Hammond and Clarkson get into an argument over which is the best - the new right-hand-drive Ford Mustang GT, or the new Ford Focus RS - reviewing their respective choice before seeing which is the fastest around the Eboladrome. Richard Hammond is very excited by the UK arrival of the very first Ford Mustang (BP 37,000, costing half of the BMW M4, 5L, 410 BHP) to be made in right-hand-drive and then very annoyed when Jeremy Clarkson turns up with a Ford Focus RS (priced about the same as a Mustang, 2.3 L, 310 BHP) loudly claiming that it's better because it was designed for the UK.
Hammond drives off. Clarkson follows, so Hammond tries to lose him, but the Ford Focus keeps pace with the Mustang. The Ford Focus is much better in the corners due to its better grip. It has the best 4-wheel drive system in the business. But the Ford Focus has a choppier ride and the tank volume is ridiculously small. The Mustang beats the Focus in a drag race, but the Ford Focus has a drift button, which makes it fast around the corners. At the Eboladrome, Focus did 1:28.4. Mustang did 1:29.6.
Conversation street: In UK 1.8% of accidents result in fatalities, but in Finland that's 5.1%. Speeding fines in Finland are means tested and a guy was fined Euros 112,000 for doing 49 in a 30-mph zone. Volvos make good interiors.
Meanwhile, May talks about the historic 24 Hours of Le Mans rivalry between Ford and Ferrari in 1960's, which gave birth to the Ford GT40 and the Ferrari P3. In the 1960's ford realized they could sell a lot more cars if they won at the racetrack. Le Mans was the only race that mattered. Ferrari were the champs at this, with Enzo Ferrari's machines having won the race 3 times on the trot. But the company was in financial difficulty. So, Ford agreed to buy Ferrari for $ 16 MM in 1963. But Enzo refused to sign the papers when Ford wanted control over the racing side of the business, which Enzo wanted to retain. The deal fell through.
Henry Ford was furious and ordered his execs to build a car that would beat Ferrari at Le Mans. A car had to be built to go over 200 mph (never done before), to last 24 hrs, withstand 9000 gear changes in that time and drove 3000 miles, in 10 months. This led to the Ford GT (40 inches tall, with a 4.2 L V8). The car was fast, but unstable. 2 cars broke during practice and all 3 entered in the race broke or caught fire. For the next year, Henry hired Carrol Shelby to tune the Ford GT40 into a winner. Shelby brought in Ken Miles, one of the best sport car drivers in America. Ken tested the car and asked Shelby to refine the body, brakes, aerodynamics, and the high-speed instability. In the 1965 race, 6 Fords started, none finished. For the 1966 race, the Ford team did countless hours of testing to improve the car. The car drove steady at 210 mph. The brakes didn't go into thermal shock. Engine was tested on a computerized rig, that tested the car for the full 24 hrs. Ferrari, in response, produced the P3. P3 maxed at 190 mph. But it was lighter and agile. Ford came to the 1966 race with 8 cars and 20 tonnes of spares. Ferrari had just 3 cars, but the fastest drivers on the planet, John Surtees. But at the last moment, the Ferrari team manager (who didn't like Surtees), pulled Surtees from the race. The Fords started fast, but by night, 4/8 were out of the race. The Ferraris were using their greater fuel efficiency and leading the race 1-2. But Ken Miles rescued the Fords by running crushing lap times which forced the Ferraris to push their cars. They broke by morning and Ford had their win at Le Mans. Ford would win the next 4 races. Ken Miles was killed 2 months later testing the latest Ford GT40. Ford spent BP 360 MM in 3 years to break Ferrari.
Plus, the presenters have some Christmas gift suggestions for the car enthusiast. A breakfast tray that attaches to the steering wheel. a Ferrari branded carbon fiber chess set for BP 1400, Honda bear, Hyundai pillowcase, and Elantra thong. The trio launch their own brand of Christmas jumpers that spell "Penis". $20 Grand tour branded Haemorrhoid cream. GT branded condom. iBot 9 to break your ankles. BP 900 pair of rocket skates.
Notes: Bob Geldof made a special appearance in this episode.
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