Racing driver Paul Rees is taking BBC Studios to court over a personal injury claim related to a 2022 crash during filming of the BBC motoring show Top Gear. Rees, who was a passenger in co-host Andrew Flintoff's car at the time of the incident, is seeking up to £150,000 in damages.
According to court documents, Rees claims he suffered personal injury as a result of the crash, which occurred at Top Gear's test track at Dunsfold Park Aerodrome in Surrey on 13 December 2022. Flintoff suffered serious facial and rib injuries in the incident, which was not publicly known to involve a second passenger.
The court documents reveal that Rees had given Flintoff expert driving advice from the passenger seat, but this was disputed by BBC Studios in its legal response. The company denied it was negligent and stated that Rees' 'faulty instructions' led to the accident.
Andrew Flintoff has previously spoken about the crash, describing how he was dragged face-down underneath the car for about 50 metres. He has also said he did not leave his house for six months after the crash, except for medical appointments. Flintoff reached a compensation settlement with the BBC in 2023 and the show was subsequently 'rested'.
The case is ongoing, with a review expected in due course.