Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - celebs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Top Gear star Eddie Jordan has broken ranks to defend Chris Evans’ mis-firing car show - and declare war on a “past it” Jeremy Clarkson .

The fiery ex-F1 boss insisted the abuse and criticism aimed at his co-star’s efforts were totally unfair and unjustified - but urged him to focus on the positives, not negatives.

He insisted Clarkson’s old version of the BBC 2 show was had “run out of juice” - and the new Top Gear was much better and had a wider appeal.

And he urged under-fire Chris: “Don’t panic - believe in yourself and what you are doing… don’t change, in fact, if anything, become more arrogant.”

Eddie also revealed that not only wouldn’t he pay to watch Clarkson’s The Grand Tour show on Amazon Prime later this year - he won’t be tuning in at all.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Dubliner Eddie, 68, spoke out after becoming increasingly angered by abuse “unfairly” directed at the new Top Gear and main host Chris Evans .

Overnight ratings have slumped in three weeks to a ten-year low of 2.4m - though Evans insists catch-up views take the figure to a healthy 6.6m.

Read more:Top Gear set to get axed as ratings plummet yet AGAIN, according to bookmakers

But Eddie, who gave German ace Michael Schumacher his first F1 drive in his Jordan car, urged fans to be patient - and give the show a “fair” chance.

(Image: BBC)

He said: “I know and like Jeremy Clarkson - I’m a big fan of what he did in the past but I have too be honest and tell it like it is.

“Jeremy and the other guys had a very successful past but the point is - it is in the past and Jeremy is past it when it comes to Top Gear. His time has come and gone.

“There has been too much time spent focusing on them - but it was a very different show then.

“I personally felt the old show had run out of juice and our version is much, much better and will ultimately be more successful.

(Image: Getty)

“For starters we have a much wider appeal than the old show which was quite divisive.

“We appeal to the young, old, women .. we have all bases covered in our presenting team.

“Chris and Matt are brilliant at what they do - they are very dynamic together. I don’t think it was planned to pair them - but I believe it has worked out brilliantly.

“Chris has done a brilliant job in difficult circumstances. What Chris is attempting is something different and better. He hasn’t got to panic. He has got to believe in himself.

“He has got to find something inside - like we used to urge our racing drivers. We used to want them to become more arrogant.

“That is what Chris needs to find - he has got to arrogantly believe this programme will be better, will be better run, will be more diverse and different .. it will be a must-watch show.

(Image: BBC)

“We have people like Chris Harris and Rory Reid who are experts who have a huge fan base and in Sabine Schmitz we have one of the fastest drivers in the world.

“Sabine is an outrageously brilliant racing driver - she took both me and (former F1 ace) Johnny Herbert to the cleaners and she is the quickest on this show. She is half a lap quicker than the Stig.

“I had no idea what to expect when I joined but I have been deeply impressed and think we are creating something special. I bring a little experience to the show.

“Everyone gets on really well and I believe there is now better team work than in the past.

“I am a competitive guy - competition is in my blood. I want to win at everything I do - and be the best. I also know a little bit about team work.

(Image: BBC)

“I’ve been around the block - this isn’t my first rodeo but I genuinely believe our Top Gear will be so much better - it is so much better

“I’m pretty certain the other fellas will be watching our show - but I won’t be paying to watch their new show.

“In fact I won’t catch it at all - it won’t be on in my house, though, of course, if I’m visiting friends and they have it on so be it.”

Eddie, who managed to wreck a Mercedes 4x4 while driving off-road on his first Top Gear film in South Africa is continuing to work as a Formula 1 pundit for Channel 4.

Chris said: “I had to hire Eddie - if he wasn’t on the phone pestering me, it was his wife urging me to sign him up.”

Tonight’s show sees adventurer Bear Grylls and pop star-turned scientist Brian Cox as Stars in a Rallycross Car.

Top Gear BBC 2 is on Sunday 8pm.