Boost Labs has put out a nice Top Gear Test Track infographic detailing the results of the lap board over time. It’s quite a cool piece and worth checking out.

UPDATE: They’ve now released an interactive version of the infographic.

A new behind the scenes book about Top Gear’s creations has been released.

[...] it tells the hidden stories of some of Top Gear’s most memorable moments including the rather unusual wager behind James May’s caravan airship, the events that inspired attempts to destroy a Toyota Hilux, the secrets of the Botswana special, what really happened in that Alabama petrol station and many, many other things.

If you’re interested, it’s available over on Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk.

After Top Gear Australia was cancelled, there were still three episodes that had been produced but never aired. They eventually aired at odd hours but more importantly they have recently shown up on the Top Gear Australia website where you can stream them for free. If you were a fan of the show, you can now catch the final three episodes.

[Thanks to Blake for the news tip!]

In a Q&A session on Jalopnik, Top Gear America host Rutledge Wood confirmed that the show will be back for a third season and that they will start filming this Sunday morning.

With the British Top Gear not returning until their Christmas special, this is very good news.

It looks like we’ll have quite a long wait until the return of Top Gear. In a recent interview with a South African radio show, Clarkson mentioned that Top Gear won’t be returning this year, presumably due to the Olympics. You can listen here — fast-forward to 8:14 for the relevant part:

UPDATE: Further confirmed by Jeremy on Twitter, specifically January.

There’s a rumour in internet land that there will be no more Top Gears this year. I’m afraid that apart from an Xmas special, it’s true.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

Would love to be back in the Autumn but Sunday nights then will be full of fat people singing.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

The good news is that the longer we have to make the films, the better they will be.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

We will be back in January

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

Top Gear is a medium sized van. Cowell is a juggernaut. When he has finished his singing competition, our new series will start.

— Jeremy Clarkson (@JeremyClarkson) 9 mai 2012

According to a tweet by Tiff, Fifth Gear will return earlier than expected:

Best of all news – now looks like Fifth Gear will kick off on Discovery not in September but in July!!! Lots of great stuff already filmed!

— Tiff Needell (@tiff_tv) 2 mai 2012