Fans of BBC 2’s hit show Top Gear will have to wait a staggering 21 years for a spot in the audience.

More than 336,000 people have applied to watch Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May film the weekly motoring show – which would create a queue stretching 127 miles.

Some keen motoring fans have even put their new-born children’s names down on the waiting list.

The new series of Top Gear has blasted back onto the small screen – and in the very first episode Jeremy Clarkson provided his unique take on the current fuel crisis.

The cars of Top Gear series 11

Clarkson took to the Top Gear test track in five of the world’s hottest cars – including the Aston Martin DBS and Lamborghini Murcielago – in a supercar shootout to find the most economical.

Richard Hammond blasted across French Alps in the new 572bhp Audi RS6 estate against two French skiers – but lost.

View more images of the Audi RS6 estate

And last week’s episode saw the trio take on one of their most ambitious challenges to date – a breathtaking race across Japan.

Richard and James would travel from coast to coast in the super-efficient Bullet train – rumoured never to be late – and were convinced they could beat Clarkson.

Top Gear: the cars

But Jeremy played his trump card and drove the journey in the most anticipated sportscar of the moment – the 476bhp Nissan GT-R.

View more images of the Nissan GT-R

Fans who still want to catch Clarkson and co in the flesh still have a chance to grab tickets for the upcoming Top Gear Live event at this year’s MPH ’08 show.

Check out the new Nissan GT-R in action;