Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May unveil ‘Facebook for cars’ where even traffic wardens are welcome
The Grand Tour stars open up about their social network for petrolheads during in-depth interview with The Sun Online
THEY are the sworn enemies of motorists everywhere and generally regarded with the same affection as a flat tyre.
But Jeremy Clarkson and his colleagues from The Grand Tour say that even traffic wardens will be welcome on , a new "Facebook for cars" social network which launched today.
We caught up with the trio in the plush surroundings of the St. Pancras Hotel in London to talk about their new website, a Facebook-style site which allows petrolheads to follow "tribes" of people with similar interests.
"Wouldn't you love to see a tribe of traffic wardens?" asks Richard Hammond excitedly.
"I hope there are some tribes that really set my teeth on edge."
Clarkson, May and Hammond have been secretly beavering away on their new project in quiet moments after their dramatic breakup with the BBC.
It works in a similar way to Facebook, with car lovers joining tribes based on their personal interests or starting up their own if they can't find one to suit them.
All of the three men have their own tribe, with Clarkson leading a group simply called Tribe, Hammond heading up Fob Jockeys and May masterminding the Carbolics collective.
The network can be accessed through apps for iPhones or Android devices, as well as desktop computers, and is designed to be easy enough for even the most technophobic of middle-aged car lovers to use
"We have one tribe focusing on rusty trucks and another about dogs in cars," Hammond adds.
"I love the fact that some people are putting up really hardcore specialist stuff, whilst others are posting images of dogs."
Clarkson in particular seems happy that The Grand Tour has hit the internet and the bust-up with the BBC has begun to fade into distant memory.
"The BBC is a wondrous organisation," he gushes in a way that's not totally convincing.
"It just has just one bad apple, but that's been resolved."
Ahead of The Grand Tour's release, Clarkson even summoned enough good cheer to twerk alongside Little Mix earlier this month when they shared a sofa on the Jonathan Ross show.
"It's amazing what we'll do to promote ourselves," he says.
"You can't sit on the Jonathan Ross show and say I'd rather not twerk because my back aches."
Drivetribe is designed to reach the same broad demographic of car lovers who tuned in to Top Gear, catering to people with an unhealthy interest in carburetors as well as those who just want to have a little chat about the relative merits of their clapped out Fiat Punto.
The social network will be closely monitored to make sure trolls don't bully other people or upload content that might upset its family friendly vibe.
This should mean it remains nice and civilised, rather than descending into some kind of macho smorgasbord of half-naked women and nasty insults.
Clarkson says: "It's a site for car lovers. I think those looking for pornography have a number of options without going to Drivetribe."
He adds: "Here's a place where they can all find people to share opinions and experiences without having to look at naked breasts."
Women are already beginning to flock to the site, which the men hail as evidence that it's not just dad jean-wearing middle-aged chaps who like to talk about cars.
"There are plenty of tribes being set up by women," Clarkson says.
"We've already got Volkswagen for girls, girl racing and things like that.
"It's nonsense to say that only men are interested in cars."
May adds: "I don't want to think it's aimed at men or will fill up with men.
"I don't quite buy the idea that men have lost their place to go."
He might have a slightly unfair reputation as a bit of a fuddy-duddy, but both Hammond and Clarkson agree that May is by far the most tech-savvy of the trio.
"Yes," May admits. "But that's like saying you live in the posh part of Doncaster.
"Jeremy is absolutely useless at operating things like computers and as far as he's concerned, the modern world doesn't have any other purpose than to annoy him."
May is even hip enough to use SnapChat, the app which allows lovers to send self-destructing pictures of their naughty bits.
"I haven't sent a d**k pic," he says.
"But I'm not averse to social media. I think the internet is the best thing to have happened in my lifetime, if not the whole of history."
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All three men have stumped up equal amounts of cash to fund the project, which is also being paid for by rich investors.
Which seems like a good idea, because May says the trio are "creatively fuelled by our dislike of one another" .
"We'll never have a fight, I'm sure of it," jokes May.
So what would happen if you did?
"Hammond would win and I would come second," he adds.
"He's quite tough, as we have seen when he crashed that jet car."
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will appear in a livestream tonight at 6pm to discuss Drivetime. To watch it, visit their or page.
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