A jet-powered dragster named Vampire reached 288 mph before suffering a catastrophic tire failure during a filming session at the former RAF Elvington airbase in 2006. The pilot, Richard Hammond, survived the inverted crash despite suffering a diffuse axonal injury, an event that became one of the most widely reported incidents in the history of British motoring television.
Early Education and Career Beginnings
Born in Solihull in 1969, Richard Mark Hammond moved to the North Yorkshire city of Ripon during the mid-1980s. He attended Blossomfield Infant School and Solihull School before completing his secondary education at Ripon Grammar School. From 1986 to 1988, he studied at Harrogate College of Art and Technology. His professional career began in regional broadcasting, where he worked for various BBC radio stations including Radio Cleveland, Radio Leeds, and Radio Newcastle. While working for Renault’s press office, he established contacts within the motoring press, eventually transitioning to television work on the satellite channel Men & Motors.
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Hammond joined the revamped Top Gear in 2002, appearing alongside Jeremy Clarkson and Jason Dawe. Despite early concerns regarding his position on the programme, he remained a central presenter for the BBC Two series until 2015. Known to audiences as "The Hamster," he later reunited with Clarkson and James May to present The Grand Tour for Amazon Prime Video between 2016 and 2024. Beyond motoring content, his television portfolio includes presenting the science series Brainiac: Science Abuse, the game show Total Wipeout, and the nature documentary series Planet Earth Live.
Professional Diversification
In 2016, Hammond co-founded the automotive social media platform DriveTribe. His media activities have extended into digital video production and autobiographical writing. By 2021, he began appearing in Richard Hammond's Workshop, a series documenting his operational management of a classic car restoration business. Throughout his career, he has maintained his role as a journalist and author while continuing to collaborate with industry colleagues, including Ben Collins and his daughter, Izzy Hammond, on various motoring-focused video projects.
Fast facts
- Born: 1969, Solihull, United Kingdom
- Educated: Ripon Grammar School, Harrogate College
- Notable TV works: Top Gear, The Grand Tour
- Other presenting credits: Brainiac: Science Abuse, Total Wipeout
- Primary field of work: Motoring journalism
- Automotive business: Richard Hammond's Workshop
Questions readers ask
What caused the 2006 Vampire dragster crash?
The front-right tire of the vehicle failed while Hammond was traveling at 288 mph at the former RAF Elvington airbase.
Did Hammond leave Top Gear voluntarily?
Following the BBC's decision not to renew Jeremy Clarkson's contract in 2015, Hammond's own contract expired, and he subsequently chose not to continue with the show.
Achievements
- Notable work: Top Gear
- Notable work: The Grand Tour
