We know this goes back a few years, 2004 in fact but snooker ace and car fanatic, Ronnie O’Sullivan took part in the popular Top Gear series.
O’Sullivan had the long hair, was often unpredictable on and off the table and it was also the year he won his second world title.
Ronnie was at the top of his game on the snooker table, but off the table he was in a very dark place.
He was the perfect candidate for Britain’s favourite show….Top Gear
Ronnie O’Sullivan Top gear challenge: The snooker star does a good lap around in the reasonably priced car and comes in at 1:47.
He is then challenged to a race against the stig with a twist. The stig does a lap of the circuit in a Mercedes-Benz SL500, while O’Sullivan must play a 4 red frame of snooker. The one that finishes first wins. Check out the video to see who won.
More recently in 2015 when the BBC sacked Jeremy Clarkson, O’Sullivan came out and told the press that he’d love the job himself.
“I’d love to have the Top Gear job. I said to my agent when the job came up; ‘I want it’, but whether I’m equipped to do it, I don’t know. I’d definately be up for it. I don’t want to follow in Jeremy Clarkson’s footsteps though….”
Clarkson, Hammond and May were subsequently replaced by a replacement panel which included Matt Le Blanc and Chris Evans to name a couple. The new format was a flop and BBC were forced to look at the future of the show.
As for Ronnie O’Sullivan? Well lets just say he’s not as unpredictable as he once was, but still has his moments here and there. He has since committed to playing snooker into his 50’s, and has become a very good pundit on Eurosport snooker.