For the first time, viewers in Asia will be able to watch the new series of Top Gear on the same day as its telecast in the UK. The latest season of Top Gear will premiere on BBC Knowledge on Monday night at 9pm SIN/HK/TW.

Top Gear returns for an explosive and extra-long run of brand new programmes. In the first episode of the series, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May are in Russia for an incredible race across the vast and very beautiful urban landscape of St Petersburg. May defends the honour of the car in a very small Renault, Hammond tries to prove that pedalling is faster by saddling up a bicycle, whilst Clarkson attempts to demonstrate that water is the quickest way across town, especially if you’re in a hovercraft. To make matters more complicated, all three presenters are racing not only each other but also The Stig, who is silently making his way towards the finish line on public transport.

Also in the first episode, Richard Hammond is at the test track to find out if the dramatic new Lamborghini Huracan is as flamboyant and fun as an Italian supercar should be. Plus, another top celebrity guest tests their steely eyed driving skills as the “Star in the Reasonably Priced Car’.

In Asia, BBC Knowledge is available in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, South Korea and Mongolia.

In the lead-up to the launch of the latest series of Top Gear, viewers can also catch an exclusive preview of the new series to be broadcast online to the world from London ahead of series 22’s Monday night telecast.

Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May will preview the forthcoming new series of Top Gear in front of a live and online global audience of fans at a special event in London on 18 January.