James May reviews Ferrari 488 GTB. But it’s not exactly Top Gear (video)

James May is back reviewing cars with a new video review of the Ferrari 488 GTB for the Sunday Times. But it’s not exactly to Top Gear standards.

We’ve got the final missing Top Gear footage to look forward to now the BBC has finally cobbled together the missing footage from Series 22 using links filmed with Richard Hammond and James May. But it seems May has been busy doing car reviewing elsewhere with this – a video review of the new Ferrari 488 GTB.

The Sunday Times employed May to pop off to Italy to play with the new Ferrari 488 – both in the hills around the Ferrari factory and on Ferrari’s own track – which should have made for some stunning filming opportunities and witty, insightful commentary. Trouble is, it hasn’t exactly worked out like that.

To expect May to play the clever and witty one without the foil of Clarkson and Hammond is perhaps a bit of a stretch, but we had expected a bit more than May has managed to deliver.

It’s clearly not all May’s fault, as The Sunday Times appears to have been rather mean with the budget and sent just one spotty sixth-former with an ancient camcorder to put together the footage, footage that makes you realise just how good Top Gear is (or was) at creating stunning cinematography.

James does manage to get the 488 sideways – briefly – on track, but he’s more focussed on the door handles of the 488 and its unappealing-looking engine than creating an entertaining piece for viewers.

It’ll be interesting to see if Clarkson and Hammond succumb to the temptation to do video reviews, or whether they’re savvy enough to realise that the three amigos together are better than the sum of their parts.

Still, according to May, there’s every chance – unless the three of them sign-up elsewhere – that they will all be back at the BBC, and Top Gear, in the end.

Related Photos: Ferrari 488 GTB

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James May Ferrari 488GTB Video review