An actor who turned director, Lamont Johnson won a reputation in the early 1970s for his finely nuanced, perceptive direction of some interesting projects.

So they haven't selected the new Stig from the Stig Farm yet. Top Gear (BBC2, Tuesday) has yet to replace Ben Collins, who outed himself as the show's stormtrooper-lookalike boy racer in his autobiography – an act that was regarded as so abject by the BBC that it was as if Santa Claus had whipped off his fake beard to reveal that he had been Noel Edmonds all along (the clue was in the name).

Jason Plato wrapped up the British Touring Cars Championship by winning yesterday's first two races at Brands Hatch.

There's a famous Monty Python sketch called Philosophers' Football, in which Greece, represented by Socrates, Archimedes and Plato take on Germany, with Hegel, Kant, Marx and Nietzsche. High culture meets low. It's brilliant. Anyway, I was reminded irresistibly of this when listening to the distinguished art critic Brian Sewell on his passion for stock-car racing. The BBC has a habit, let's call it Stephen Fry syndrome, whereby once they've found a presenter who can do something, they want them to do everything, witness Mark Lawson and Andrew Marr. Good at politics? Here's a history series. A doctor? Why not take on some wildlife, and archaeology while you're at it. Famous for fashion? What about a book programme. It's as though we're suffering some worldwide presenter shortage and all those bright young things emerging from media courses and YouTube simply needn't bother. It's a conundrum. Programme-makers complain that without a big name, their pitch won't get commissioned. Journalists need to prove their versatility. Older presenters cry ageism if they are sidelined. Yet there are times when stretching the talent is justified and Stock Car Sewell was one of them.

The prince of posh goes stock-car racing – and loves the colours

Note to America's political class: if you are thinking about trying to court blue-collar voters, think twice before parading around in a Burberry coat that probably cost more than one of their family cars.

Brazilian Nelson Piquet is eyeing a move to NASCAR's pickup truck racing series after his stint in Formula One was tainted by a race-fixing controversy with Renault.

Diatribes that don't find top gear

She's 15, she's fast and is making history in Ginetta Juniors

What is it?

The National Association for Stock Car Racing was born out of attempts in the 1920s and 1930s to set land speed records on Daytona Beach in Florida. Yesterday marked the start of the Daytona 500 which marks the beginning of Nascar's 60th season.

The sporting spiritual home of blue-collar America is running into trouble as both recession-hit car makers and spectators steer clear of the race tracks.

North Carolina seems a laid-back, gentle place – until you encounter the 167,000 people watching Nascar races. Rob Crossan jumps in for a 165mph trip around the circuit

Switzerland's Alain Menu took race two to deny a BMW double at the World Touring Car Championship meeting at Brands Hatch yesterday.

Andy Priaulx will be going all out to give his fans something to cheer in the World Touring Car Championship's seventh round of the season, at Brands Hatch this weekend.