Parents left out of pocket as kids’ Top Gear track days axed after Chris Evans drives ratings into the ground
Parents who forked out up to £90 for experiences, including a race lap with the Stig, have been left fuming and out of pocket after being told of the cancellation two days beforehand by email
HUNDREDS of young Top Gear fans had their official track days axed at the last minute after the firm running them went bust as the popularity of the show has plummeted.
Parents who forked out up to £90 for the BBC show racing experiences, including a race lap with the Stig, have been left fuming and out of pocket after being told of the cancellation by email.
Up to 700 are believed to have lost out with many given just two days’ notice by email.
Sharon Evans-Hope, 46, paid £60 for son Marcus to visit the track at Dunsfold Park, Surrey, and £240 to stay at a nearby hotel.
The mum, from Bath, said: “He eats, sleeps and breaths Top Gear and he is devastated.
“We have saved hard to ensure he has a mini break with accommodation and we can't cancel this so who is going to pay for this?”
Clare Wakeford, 39, of Guildford, bought the day for son Ethan’s 11th birthday. She said: “He’s so upset and disappointed.
“My husband has also taken the day off work to take him and now loses a day’s holiday.”
Tony Davis, from Epsom, was treating his 14-year-old grandson on his birthday.
He said: “He won’t get a present from me now.”
The track days which include under 17s off roading, driving with The Stig and Star in a Reasonably Priced Car have been run for two-and-a-half years.
TGXP, believed to have paid BBC Worldwide six figures for the license to run the days, confirmed it was no longer trading, and blamed the BBC show’s decline.
Audiences fell from 6.9 million to 1.9 million after ex-host Jeremy Clarkson was dropped, following a fracas with a producer, and replaced by Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc.
TGXP said: "Despite good reviews and early strong sales for the Top Gear Track Experience, there has been a sharp decline in ticket sales and interest since the changes in the television show.
“We deeply regret the position this puts our remaining customers in, have posted refund advice on our website and will be contacting all our customers directly in the coming days."
A BBC Worldwide spokesman said: "We share the frustration of fans who’ve had their track day cancelled by TGXP."