Jeremy Clarkson takes last lap of the Top Gear track: 'Bit sad leaving for the final time'

Jeremy Clarkson has drove around Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey, better known as the Top Gear test track, for the very last time, following on from his axing from the show earlier in the year. The controversial television and radio personality took to Twitter later on that day to describe how he felt after the event, writing: "My last ever lap of the Top Gear track is done. Bit sad leaving the place for the final time."

Before his final drive, the 55 year old asked his followers to give him some advice on what car to drive, tweeting "Right. About to do my last ever lap of the Top Gear test track. What car should I use?" His responders had a choice between a Mercedes AMG GT, a Ferrari 488 GTB and a LaFerrari and despite all the advice he got on which vehicle to pick, Clarkson didn't actually reveal what he opted for in the end.

He did share some things about his last lap, including the fact that he made sure to do some tricks on his final drive around the track. "2 good things about the last lap," he wrote. "It raised a load of cash for a good cause. And I did the motherf***** of all tail slides through Chicago [the legendary turn before the main runway]."

Four months ago, Clarkson auctioned off a lap around the famous former airfield at the annual Round House charity event, a non-profit organisation that helps young artists and creatives across the UK. The winning bid amounted to just short of £100,000 and was won by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and racing driver Marino Franchitti, both of whom joined him for this one last stint around the airfield.

Clarkson and his former co-hosts James May and Richard Hammond (who opted out of staying on as part of Top Gear following Clarkson's departure) are expected to make their own motoring show on either Amazon or Netflix, however there has been no official announcement as of yet. ITV were said to be in the running to fund a show that would compete with the BBC original but it has since been revealed that creating a programme about cars on the rival network would be a breach of their old contracts with the BBC.

Meanwhile, Radio 2 host Chris Evans has been confirmed as Clarkson's replacement for the continuation of Top Gear and open auditions are being carried out to fill the remaining two hosting slots.