Video: welcome to Top Gear's Speed Week 2017

Speed Week 2017 is here. Top Gear’s performance car of the year contest takes place in Scotland, at the roller-coaster Knockhill circuit and on utterly stunning highland roads.

And what a line-up 2017 boasts. The headline acts are the Ford GT, Lamborghini Huracán Performante and McLaren 720S. But that would be forgetting to mention a new Porsche 911 GT3, or its burliest rival yet, the Mercedes-AMG GT R.

Then there’s the Volkswagen Up GTI, the most attainable GTI in a very long time. The Honda Civic Type R, quite possibly the most talented front-wheel-drive car ever. The first all-weather Mercedes E63. The hardcore BMW M4 CS. The slashily styled Lexus LC500. One of the most powerful roadsters on sale, the 602bhp Audi R8 Plus Spyder.

Oh, and a man called Chris Harris helping adjudicate the whole lot. The good news is you can follow Speed Week 2017 on TopGear.com, with a new track test, gallery or video every day between now and November 1.

That’s when the Speed Week issue of Top Gear magazine goes on sale, including the full Scottish road trip, and our performance car of the year.

Which car are you placing your bets on?