Richard Hammond gets back into the car which nearly killed him

A DRIVETRIBE video shows Hammond, who lives in Weston-under-Penyard near Ross-on-Wye, stepping back into the Vampire dragster which he crashed in 2006.

In the video, which is an overview of what's to come on DRIVETRIBE in 2022, Hammond said the car was in better shape than when he last saw it.

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That was in 2006 when he was severely injured in a high-speed crash at the former RAF Elvington airfield near York.

Police Officers at the scene of the Richard Hammond crash at Elvington. Picture : Anthony Chappel-Ross.

Since then, the car has been fully restored by a team of car enthusiasts from Bromyard – with a Bromyard Speed Festival stick proudly displayed on the bonnet.

In the video, Hammond, 52, said: "I'll be doing what I promised myself I would never do – and get back into the Vampire dragster that very, very nearly killed me."

"I'm just going to do it," he said as he prepared to get back into the car with a theoretical top speed of 370mph.

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"Right, well here goes. What's odd is I remember the last time I got in this thing, but I don't remember getting out – so technically I'm still in it."

The video was then cut short, with Hammond not staying in the car when it was started up.

One of the tyres failed during the runs in 2006, with the car, which still holds the British land speed record it set in 2000, flipping and causing Hammond serious injuries.

The jet-powered car "Vampire" at Elvington Airfield near York, where Hammond was seriously injured. Picture: PA Wire

The father-of-two left hospital five weeks later and made a full recovery, returning to present BBC Top Gear before moving to Amazon Prime's The Grand Tour.

He has since opened car restoration business The Smallest Cog in Hereford, with film crews documenting his experience.

Vampire, driven by Colin Fallows, holds the British land speed record as it reached 300.3mph, powered by a Rolls-Royce Orpheus turbojet engine.