Top Gear star Freddie Flintoff’s horror crash happened at ‘only 22mph’

It had been suggested Freddie was driving at 130mph

The former cricketer has largely been absent from public life since the crash at Dunsfold Park aerodrome in Surrey on 13 December 2022 and had thought to be driving at 130mph in an open-topped three-wheel Morgan Super 3 when the accident happened.

The 45-year-old, who made a rare public appearance last week to award an England cap to spin bowler Tom Hartley, wasn't wearing a helmet at the time so his face scrapped the ground. The incident led to the BBC cancelling the rest of the Top Gear series.

Over the weekend new details emerged surrounding the crash, including that he was driving at just 35kmh.

A source claimed to The Mail on Sunday: “People talk about this ‘high-speed crash’ but although the consequences were horrendous, it was no such thing. The car was actually going at 22mph when it flipped over. There is a lot of footage and it has been carefully looked at.”

The source told the publication that there was no fault with the vehicle and it was "road legal" without the driving wearing a helmet.

"They had only just set off and were on the first corner when the car flipped and he scraped his face along the tarmac," the insider continued.

Neither Flintoff or the BBC has commented about the claim.

In the aftermath of the crash, BBC bosses were accused of "failing to properly look after" Freddie, who was filming an episode of the show when the crash happened.

Reports suggest Top Gear is now set to be axed, with BBC bosses making the "tough decision" following the crash.

Related links:

Freddie Flintoff speaks publicly for first time since Top Gear crash

Freddie Flintoff’s injuries after horror crash have been confirmed

Freddie Flintoff spotted for first time since horror Top Gear crash

Ex-Top Gear host says Freddie Flintoff ‘decided life was more important’ than TV show after crash

James May hints Top Gear will end without Jeremy Clarkson