Top Gear's Chris Harris and Eddie Jordan Escape Flaming Alpine A110

French carmaker Renault has responded after an Alpine A110 sports car lit aflame during filming for an episode of the BBC’s Top Gear.

The vehicle caught fire while Harris and Jordan were driving it during a tarmac stage of the Monte Carlo Rally. An engine warning light on the pre-production spec A110 had come on which prompted Harris to pull over to the side of the road. Just minutes later, the entire car was engulfed in flames. Luckily the pair escaped the car unharmed and in Harris’ case, he was lucky to be wearing a fire-proof race suit.

“I first realised I needed to get out when I opened the door and the flames went up my arm,” Harris said. “Sadly the car was lost and it always makes me sad to see a beautiful car destroyed.”

“Doing a stage of the Monte Carlo Rally was a dream come true for me,” added Jordan. “The car was stunning – so light on its toes. It was dancing around the mountain and Chris was driving it beautifully.

“It’s such a shame we didn’t finish the test, but these things happen.”

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Neither Harris nor Jordan are strangers to motorsport and its potential dangers. Harris has driven in a multitude of race series, including the Blancpain GT Endurance Series, and Jordan is a former F1 team owner.

The A110 is a mid-engine sports car built by Renault and features a 250 horsepower 1.8-liter turbocharged engine, which sends power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. The automaker is investigating the incident and has halted all test drives of pre-production A110s.

“Alpine and Groupe Renault are investigating the causes of this incident,” a spokesperson said. “As a pre-emptive measure, we have temporarily frozen all driving activities for pre-production cars.”

“We expect to resume once a thorough diagnosis is complete and all precautionary steps are taken.”

[Source: The Daily Mail]