ITV4's 'classic motoring showdown' series The Car Years returned to our screens this week.
Presenters Vicki Butler-Henderson and Alex Riley are once again taking to the road in a selection of their favourite cars from various eras in an effort to decide which is the best.
Having previously cruised along the Causeway Coastal Route and through the Mournes while battling to prove that their chosen cars are, in fact, the superior mode of transport from the year in question, the duo are back in Ireland for series three – and this time, they are heading down south.
The pair have chosen to champion their sampling of iconic motors along our world-famous 1,600-mile long Wild Atlantic Way, winding their way down the west coast from Donegal's Inishowen Peninsula, through the Ring of Kerry and Connor Pass before finishing in Kinsale, Co Cork.
"It's the only show on TV that actually explains how the world's most fascinating and fondly remembered cars turned out the way they did," says Alex Riley of the programme that is supported by Adrian Flux Insurance and Tourism Ireland.
"It's full of charismatic and occasionally dodgy characters, inspired ideas, heroic failures and mind-boggling successes, plus the roads on Ireland's west coast provide the most stunning backdrop.
"The vintage outfits are pretty special too – and as for my arguments with Vicki, they're absolutely brutal."
The eight-part show kicked off last night with a double-bill of early-90s car battles: two of 1993's hottest hatches, the Renault Clio Williams and Lancia Delta HF Integrale Evoluzione II, went head-to-head, before a pair of 1963 sporting saloons, the Ford Lotus Cortina and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT, were put through their paces.
As ever, Vicki and Alex put their cases to three expert judges with the help of a panel of familiar faces/industry experts, including motoring author Richard Porter, former F1 driver Karun Chandhok and motoring journalists Erin Baker and Jason Barlow, who are on hand to share the stories behind the development and launch of each of the duo's chosen vehicles.
Catch up on the first two episodes now via via ITVHub and tune in every Tuesday evening on ITV4 at 8pm to see which other vehicles will be put through their paces along the Wild Atlantic Way.
:: For more information about the line-up of vehicles and years that feature, or to watch the official series three trailer, visit The Car Years page on the Adrian Flux website at adrianflux.co.uk/the-car-years.
:: THE CAR YEARS – SERIES THREE: AT A GLANCE
- Lancia Delta EVO2 vs Renault Clio Williams (1993)
- Dodge Viper vs Jaguar XJ220 (1992)
- Honda NSX vs Mazda MX5 (1989)
- Maserati BiTurbo vs DeLorean DMC12 (1981)
- Aston Martin V8 Vantage vs Pontiac Firebird Trans Am (1977)
- Lotus Europa vs Jensen Interceptor (1966)
- Ford Lotus Cortina vs Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT (1963)
- Fiat 500 vs BMW 600 (1957) [[ge:irishnews:irishnews:2794451]]
