One thing is always clear when Needell talks about cars, his passion for driving is absolutely expressed.
Tiff Needell is a motorsport legend. He brings his knowledge of what it’s like to race at some of the most challenging motorsport events in the world to the shows he puts on.
Getting information from an old professional will always be more trustworthy than a moderator unrelated to cars. Sorry Paddy McGuinness from Top Gear UK! That’s why you thought he’d pushed the car to its limits when Needell was moving on a track.
One thing is always clear when Needell talks about cars, his passion for driving is absolutely expressed. Needell could drive a broken bug and still find a way to make it as fun as possible. Whatever the reason you love cars, Needell will find a way to take advantage of this and keep you interested in what he has to say.
He has had a long and successful career in the automotive industry, both as a racing driver and as a moderator, but now let’s see what Tiff Needell is up to today.
Tiff Needell’s race record
Via Flickr
His racing career began in the late 1970s with appearances at F2 and F3 events. As a young racing driver, the British driver worked his way up to the height of motorsport in 1980.
Tiff Needell was able to secure a place in a Formula 1 car for the Unipart Racing Team, where he contested two races, including the legendary Monaco Grand Prix. Although his Formula 1 racing career was only short in the 1980s season, his life in motorsport was eventful.
The driver has been behind the wheel of racing teams around the world for over 20 years and has participated in events such as the World Endurance Championship and the World Touring Car Championship. Needell has a few champagne moments from his time on the track thanks to a couple of wins.
Tiff Needell’s presentation career
His racing career brought Needell a presentation position at Top Gear in 1987. For some of those years he worked with Jeremy Clarkson, and Needell believes his co-host is an old professional. Needell explained to Lovecars that despite his approach to the presentation, Clarkson really knows what he’s talking about and that he is a car enthusiast.
The moderator racer pitched camp on Top Gear for 14 years until it was canceled by the BBC in 2001 and reinstated in 2002. For reasons of solidarity, the presenting crew from Top Gear jumped together and started their own driving show in a different network.
That show would be Fifth Gear and ran as a competitor to Top Gear for over a decade. Needell co-hosted Fifth Gear for a long time alongside Mark Plato, Vicki Butler-Henderson, and Jonny Smith. While Clarkson and Co. focused on making each other look stupid at Top Gear, the Fifth Gear presenters were more serious.
The gang stuck together for nearly a decade before going their own way and pursuing new opportunities. In 2019 it was announced that Tiff Needell would also be leaving the show, which he presented for 17 years. Needell openly admitted that his organizers did not invite him to return to Fifth Gear, which presented him with a new opportunity.
What is Tiff Needell doing today?
Via Wikimedia Commons
Just like a racing driver booted by his team, Needell was looking for a new seat to call himself. The presenter works with YouTube personality Paul Woodman to showcase Lovecars: On the Road.
Needell has helped Lovecars in the past on its YouTube channel and now it is stepping up things to give its audience a full-fledged show. Lovecars’ YouTube channel has steadily grown its fan base over the years thanks to its association with Needell and its selection of auto videos.
What are the best cars he’s driven?
Via Flickr
With over 20 years as a racing driver and nearly 30 years as an auto journalist, Needell has basically driven everything on four wheels. The presenter was asked what his favorite supercar was in a Lovecars video, and the presenting legend knew the answer right away. He said the McLaren F1 was his favorite but had only had a couple of chances to drive it in the past.
Needell said another unusual car that he enjoyed driving throughout his career was the BAC Mono. There’s no doubt that Needell felt at home in the street car that was basically built for the track.
When asked which cars he enjoyed the most, Needell immediately replied that they were rear-wheel drive. What we suspect isn’t a big surprise considering how much he loves to slide around while driving.
Despite driving so many exotic cars in the past, Needell explained to Lovecars that the only car he drives at home is a 12-year-old BMW X5. He added that he has a quad in his and the Formula Ford racing car he won in 1971. Needell bought the car back and drives at classic events whenever he has the opportunity.
About the author
Connor Doyle
(27 articles published)
Connor is a UK based content writer and journalist who has been in the business for several years. He loves to look at the changing auto trends when sustainability plays a bigger role in our lives. When he’s not writing, he likes to sweat buckets, play soccer, or chill with horror books.
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