The boys are back! In the latest installment of The Grand Tour unsurprisingly titled “Sand Job,” Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May catapult viewers into a desert adventure in Mauritania, an African nation just north of Senegal. Recently released on Amazon Prime Video, the newest episode combines the usual automotive hubris, comical banter, and, as always, a dash of unexpected drama leading to their normal “ambitious but rubbish” journey. As the trio navigates the shifting sands, this episode encapsulates the essence of what makes The Grand Tour exceptional but also serves as a riveting prelude to the impending final episode, marking the end of an era that began with Top Gear.

“Sand Job” unfolds against the sprawling backdrop of an undeniably orange desert landscape, a setting that provides both visual splendor and vehicular challenges. The hosts embark on an off-road odyssey attempting to answer the question, “can they build Rally Raid cars based on high end supercars for cheap?” With Jeremy in a Jaaag F-Type, Hammond in an Aston Martin DB9 with a roof tent, and May in a Maserati Gran Turismo, “Sand Job” promises to provide the quintessential Grand Tour shit show we have all come to love. Pitting their customized machines against each other as well as the unforgiving terrain, they stumble through the classic text challenges from Mr. Whilman. They main quest testing their machines and the reason for their venture to Western Africa is to recreate a part of the Paris-Dakar Rally. Starting in the late 70s, the Paris-Dakar rally was just that, a race from Paris to Dakar across the Sahara Desert. A grueling miserable event that challenges even the most prepared cars. The route has since changed, but the event still held today now as the Dakar Rally. I can’t think of a better place for 3 unreliable supercars to go for a rally. You know you are in for a good time with these idiots when the challenge is ridiculous before they start.

Sand Job brings us back to the good ol’ days of Top Gear challenges. It’s mostly highly-produced content as usual but you don’t care. Its such a good time, because its relatable. What has always made the three of them great on TV was no matter what was planned, faked, fabricated, their relationships weren’t and you can tell from a mile away. This friendship is something most people can relate to. In my opinion, its the reason why Top Gear was so popular in the first place. Anyone can watch it and enjoy, regardless of their affiliation to the car world. This Special caters to that premise giving the fans exactly what they are craving as the trio wrap up their careers: Nostaliga.

I always enjoy content from these 3. Whatever they are doing, I am in, like, fully in. I have watched and rewatched Top Gear countless times. I’ve seen May and Hammond build legos while drinking, and even gotten into the intricacies of farming with Clarkson. This special felt different than the previous one though. For the first time, I was watching them knowing this was going to end. I have always known it would end, but this time we actually know. The boys are making one more special then it all ends. With that finite amount of time left, every minute matters more. The impending end adds emotional resonance to Sand Job. The camaraderie, humor, and chemistry that have made The Grand Tour and Top Gear an enduring success are on full display. Creating a bittersweet ambiance as the hosts bid farewell not only to the desert, but rather symbolically, to the inevitable last chapter of their automotive legacy. Clarkson, Hammond, and May have left an indelible mark on all of us cars fans and you can feel that when you watch this one. 

“Sand Job” emerges as a rightful precursor to the final episode of The Grand Tour, weaving together the sands of adventure and a laughter-filled journey that spans the eras of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. As the trio navigates the dunes, viewers brace themselves for a final lap, a poignant farewell that promises nostalgia as its rumored to be located in Central Africa. The place where the so called “Top Gear Specials” began. I’m sure they won’t disappoint and I can’t even begin to contain my excitement. When the final episode does get release later this year, I can’t say I won’t be crying when its over, but I will no doubt be smiling.