Calling petrolheads: do you want to present Top Gear?

Ever thought you'd make a brilliant Top Gear presenter? Well, here's your chance to put your money where your mouth is. Or, rather, your face where your mouth is.

New TG host Chris Evans has today announced the start of an audition process, where fans can apply to join the presenting team.

"The way Richard and James were found was by auditioning," reckons Evans, "so what we're going to do is hold auditions. Not just for famous people, ex-famous people, up-and-coming famous people, but for people who are watching the show."

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"Male, female, old, young, it doesn't matter. The one thing that does matter is that you've got to have a real appetite for cars, and you've got to know something about cars."

Chris added that you don't need to be an established presenter to apply.

"You can be a mechanic, you can be an amateur racing car driver, you can be a guy who's a fireman but who's been building his own Land Rover in his shed for five years, but you've got to know about cars…"

Presenting hopefuls - who can apply from all over the world, not just the UK - should record a video clip no longer than 30 seconds. "It should just be you, to camera from the waist up. No stunts, no gimmicks, just you talking to camera," said Chris. Presenting wannabees must be over 16.

Candidates, Evans announced, would be 'whittled down' before being invited to audition live for Evans and the TG production team.

"It's all a big open book," he said. "Top Gear has benefitted from the audition process, and we think that can happen again. You must know at least as much as me, preferably more than me, about cars."

Evans added that there was ‘no guarantee' that a member of public would form one of the final presenting team, and that it will "only happen if there's anything good."

"Will we have one host, two hosts, three hosts?" he asked. "Will we have hosts who come and have a go depending what's on the programme that night?"

Sounds like that's up to you, camera-confident TG enthusiasts.

Details will arrive tomorrow of exactly where to send your clip, no doubt accompanied by a vast list of terms and conditions. Until then, dig out your best (or worst) shirt, and get scribbling that 30-second script...