(27 August 2008 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has launched a new Top Gear channel on video sharing site Youtube.

The new channel will showcase great Top Gear moments such as the epic race between a Bugatti Veyron and a light aircraft, as well as celebrity interviews with the likes of music legend and car-enthusiast Jamiroquai and pop impresario Simon Cowell.

The Top Gear channel will mark the first time BBC Worldwide has launched a dedicated section on YouTube for a single programme brand and reflects the popularity of the show.

The Top Gear channel will complement the existing BBC Worldwide YouTube page and will create an official online space for the Top Gear brand and its fans.

New content to be added on the new channel will include the race between an Aston Martin DB9 and a train to Monte Carlo, the team's attempted English Channel crossing in converted cars and the presenters' attempt to buy a decent Porsche for under £1500.

In addition to Top Gear clips, the channel will also feature content from the presenters' other shows. Other programmes featured will include Jeremy Clarkson's MotorWorld, Clarkson's Car Years, Clarkson's Extreme Machines and Richard Hammond Meets Evel Knievel.

BBC Worldwide director digital media Simon Danker says, "Top Gear has a massive audience across the globe so we thought it was time it had its own place on Youtube. The BBC Worldwide Youtube channel has already proven its value to users, having generated millions of views since its launch in March last year.

"We're now expanding our portfolio of Youtube channels to reflect the massive online popularity of certain programme brands and to give fans of shows like Top Gear a dedicated destination on Youtube."