A 2014 Top Gear episode, widely regarded as one of the most controversial in the show's history, has resurfaced online ahead of the World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina. The episode, known as the Patagonia Special, features Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May driving across Chile and Argentina. It gained notoriety after protesters targeted the crew, believing that the license plate on Clarkson's Porsche – H982 FKL – was a deliberate reference to the Falklands War and the year it occurred.
Renewed Interest Ahead of World Cup Clash
With Argentina set to face England in the World Cup semi-finals, social media users have revived discussion about the episode. A user on X, @aggzzx, shared a screenshot from the special with the caption 'Locked in to some essential pre-match viewing.' The post has garnered 16,000 likes and sparked a heated debate about whether Clarkson intentionally provoked Argentinians.
Opinions remain divided. @Marksism__ commented, 'The hilarious thing about this is that Clarkson genuinely did not mean to wind them up.' In contrast, @Oakely_Dokely argued, 'Yeah, I am not buying that he didn’t notice the number plate. Not a chance.' Some users, like @NafonClover, claimed that 'if you look up that plate you will find that it has been with the car since it was manufactured.' Others suggested the crew noticed the plate only upon arrival in Chile but chose not to change it to avoid delays and costs.
Clarkson's Account and BBC Investigation
Writing in The Sun at the time, Clarkson described the incident as 'the most terrifying thing I’ve ever been involved in,' insisting it was 'not just some kind of jolly Top Gear jape – this was deadly serious.' The crew was forced to flee Argentina after being pelted with stones while driving toward the Chilean border.
In 2015, the BBC concluded an investigation into the license plate, ruling that it had not been a deliberate reference to the Falklands War and took no further action. Despite this, many viewers remain skeptical. @WFC_Will wrote, 'All of them still pretend it was an accident, which is a bit weird. Obviously they didn’t go out of their way to find a car with a Falklands-related number plate, but they obviously thought it was funny once they happened to come across it.'
Broader Reactions and Legacy
@monarchofrymden offered a nuanced perspective: 'I hate Clarkson even if he did intend to wind them up, that’s not an excuse to try to murder the Top Gear crew.' The episode, available on BBC iPlayer, continues to be a talking point, especially in the context of renewed tensions between England and Argentina. The debate over the license plate underscores the lasting impact of the Falklands War on Anglo-Argentine relations.
