Top Gear trio Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May meet for 'secret talks' at Goodwood Motor Circuit

The threesome were spotted filming at the track, fuelling rumours about a possible Top Gear comeback

Richard Hammond and James May are unlikely to return to host Top Gear without Jeremy Clarkson (Getty Images)

Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond are said to be meeting in secret at Goodwood Motor Circuit, according to Chris Evans.

The former bookies' favourite to replace Clarkson on the show told Radio 2 listeners that the trio were holding talks with Brand Events, the company behind Top Gear Live, at the motor racing track.

“[Clarkson] is doing a very secret thing with James May, Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond that we’re not allowed to talk about. They are at Goodwood right now, in secret,” Evans said.

Clarkson and May were spotted leaving the Goodwood Hotel in West Sussex, sparking rumours that the threesome may be planning a new show to rival Top Gear.

The three were also pictured having dinner at a local pub, The Earl of March, in Lavant.

A spokeseperson for the racing venue said: “Goodwood has no knowledge currently of any such production, nor of a meeting that has been reported as being scheduled for 30 April, and will be making no further comment on the matter.”

It has since been confirmed the trio have been filming scenes in preparation for their tour next month.

The presenters will reunite again next month for their tour, formerly known as Top Gear Live, which has now been renamed Clarkson, Hammond and May Live following Clarkson’s dismissal from the BBC.

The BBC decided not to renew Clarkson’s contract in March after he punched a producer on set following a row about the lack of hot food.

Hammond and May have confirmed they will not be returning for another series of Top Gear without Clarkson at the helm.

The series will return in a new form next year, with BBC2 controller Kim Shillinglaw refusing to rule out the possibility of a female presenter.

“We’ll definitely look at some women, but it’s not a driving priority”, she said.

“I worked with a lot of female presenters and when I used to work in science that was something across the piste that I really wanted to tackle.

“But I don’t think I’ve ever approached an individual show thinking that was the way I want to cast it so I think it’s an open book on that.”