Series 17, Episode 3: the rehearsals

What with the visit of the man pictured above, all eyes were on the sky this Wednesday down at the Top Gear studio. The top spot on our leaderboard for F1 drivers looked in danger, if only it could stay dry.

Well, it did, although it was so windy that filming was regularly interrupted by what sounded like Thor banging his hammer in irritation against the studio door. That aside, it was a great day.

And how did Mr Finger do? You'll have to watch this Sunday 10 July, BBC2, 8pm to see...

Pictures: Mark Yeoman / BBC

Too many helmet-based jokes to make here, so we won't.

He's always like this when he has to hand over keys, even to a Liana

Jake Humphrey couldn't keep away from the track on a day like today

One of these people is the exclusive designer of Eddie Jordan's entire shirt collection

How does one communicate the etymology of "Gambon" in morse code?

Jeremy's sunflowers are coming along nicely

And so are Richard's marrows

Mrs Beckham designed this, you know

Hammond's been learning the "robot" this week. 

Click here for more photos of when Sebastian met The Stig