It’s back for a fourth season (second season on Channel 9), and Top Gear Austrlia is finally allowing the hosts to show some of the camaradarie that has developed over the last 12 months of sproadic filming and challenges. It’s a reasonable observation that the first (very short) season of TGA didn’t exactly capture people’s attention last year, so by injecting some additional new talent in Hamish Blake and Andy Lee to the mix – even if only briefly as guests racing the TGA ute around the track – should see some support on Tuesday nights. We’ll know pretty quickly, that’s for sure. From the press release:

Top Gear Australia is returning for its second series on the Nine Network, leaving passports at home, hitting the roads and off-roads of Australia, and bringing new car reviews, motoring challenges and stunts to Tuesday nights.

In this series starting Tuesday, August 30, at 8.30pm, Ewen, Shane and Steve won’t just spar with each other – they’ll also take on Australian lawmakers, questioning the lack of common sense and safety in road rules passed by State and Federal governments. Plus there are new Aussie stars on the Top Gear racetrack.

In the premiere episode the boys add some spice to rally driving by introducing a novel twist: blindfolding the driver. Will the new sport catch on? Watch and find out. In this week’s car review Ewen declares his long-held dirty secret: he loves Volvos. The question is, will he like the sexy new S60-R? Or has Volvo lost its geek appeal by going to cool school? Toyota has relaunched its retro-style FJ Cruiser and when Ewen and Shane head out to review it, Shane comes up with a unique test that doubles as a world record attempt. Will the trio get their names in the history books?

One half of comedy duo Hamish and Andy, Andy Lee, might be a national radio and television star, but how will he take to our Top Gear track?

In a controversial new segment Ewen will debate why he believes freeway speed limits should be increased, while in another new segment,V8 to the Rescue, the boys rev up a V8-powered fast-bowling machine that will no doubt help Australia win back the Ashes against England.

Top Gear Australia returns: Tuesday, August 30, at 8.30pm