Former Top Gear co-host Chris Harris recently spoke about Freddie Flintoff’s crash in 2022, revealing that he had warned the BBC about dangerous situations months before the incident occurred. Flintoff, who was a former pro Cricket player and Top Gear presenter, suffered serious injuries in a crash while filming an episode at the Dunsfold track in December 2022. The crash ultimately led to the end of the popular motoring show, and while Flintoff has largely recovered, he continues to struggle with physical and mental challenges.
### Chris Harris’s Warning to the BBC
On a recent episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Chris Harris shared his thoughts about the crash, revealing that he had tried to warn the BBC about potential dangers on the show. Three months prior to the accident, Harris had expressed concerns to the network, stating that unless changes were made, someone could get seriously hurt. Despite his efforts, Harris felt that his warnings were not taken seriously by the BBC.
### Previous Incidents on Top Gear
Flintoff’s crash was not the first incident to occur on Top Gear during its later years. In 2020, Paddy McGuinness lost control of a Lamborghini Diablo while on public roads, resulting in a crash into a field. In 2019, Flintoff crashed a Subaru Brat during a race in Mansfield. Harris also recalled a moment when he crashed wooden go-karts in Thailand, which left him with a broken hand. These incidents, along with the lack of response from the BBC, contributed to Harris’s concerns about the safety of the show.
### The Day of Freddie Flintoff’s Crash
During the day of the crash, Flintoff was driving a Morgan 3 Wheeler, a vehicle that Harris had experience with. However, Harris was not informed about the filming of the segment, missing the opportunity to discuss driving techniques with Flintoff, as they had done in the past. This lack of communication and preparation on the day of the crash weighed heavily on Harris, who felt that if they had discussed the vehicle beforehand, the incident may have been prevented.
### The Future of Top Gear
Following the crash and subsequent cancellation of Top Gear, the BBC announced that the show would be “rested” for the foreseeable future. If the show does return, it is likely to have a different format and new hosts. Harris expressed his concerns about the dangers of the show and his hope that the BBC will take safety more seriously in any future iterations of Top Gear.
### Conclusion
The crash involving Freddie Flintoff on Top Gear in 2022 served as a wake-up call for the BBC regarding the safety of the show and its hosts. Chris Harris’s warning about dangerous situations and his experiences leading up to the crash shed light on the challenges faced by presenters in the high-risk environment of motoring television. As Flintoff continues to recover from the physical and mental effects of the crash, it is clear that changes must be made to ensure the safety of all involved in the production of such shows in the future.