There’s nothing worse than seeing our TV license being spent on Cash In The Attic and The Antiques Roadshow – well all is not lost as the BBC has spent some of our license fee on their first iPad/iPhone game and it comes in the form of the Top Gear: Stunt School driving game.
Released a couple of days before Christmas it went under the radar during the Christmas rush. Well, it's really starting to gather momentum and is looking like a sure-fire number 1.
2010 was the year of Angry Birds, but 2011 looks like our favourite pokey motoring show Top Gear will be top dog on the app store.
As soon as we saw the app we dived straight in and were glad to report that it's one of the best apps we've come across.
It might not have the best graphics or car models, but when it comes down to gameplay we've yet to come across a game that offers so much depth and fun. The Top Gear Stunt School challenges you strap a jet engine to a racing car and make it jump 100ft into the air. Manage that and the game will task you jump a 100 caravans, impossible surely? Well, not with the level customisation on offer.
There are over two billion different combinations of upgrades and add-ons that you can use to modify your car to try to beat the challenges. The challenges range from jumping caravans with a reasonably priced car, car darts, and delivering bombs on the top of your car without triggering an explosion.
There are 60 unique physics-based stunt challenges to complete, with 20 additional "sandbox" challenges, which will require you to perform an unparalleled level of car customisation to achieve your goals.
You will be given the keys to 9 iconic car types with unlockable upgrades that change how your car drives, like jet engines, monster truck tires, armour plating or cargo wagons.
You can have the Stig test any car you customise on the official Top Gear: Stunt School, then race to beat his time.
You'll be able to challenge your friends directly to beat their stunt scores and race times with any car you create. The game features a wide variety of Game Center and OpenFeint achievements that reward experimentation and driving skill.
The app is £3.99 for iPad and £2.39 for the iPhone and is worth every penny.
Get the HD iPad here and the iPhone version here.
We managed a 1500ft flight on the third car athletics challenge – let us know how you get on.