Adam Carolla leads on-air team for NBC pilot

NBC has put a trio of hosts behind the wheel of its adaptation of the BBC hit "Top Gear."

Comedian/car collector Adam Carolla, rally driver and stunt performer Tanner Foust and HGTV host Eric Stromer will try to fill the shoes of U.K. hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. The American version will shoot a pilot this week.

"This franchise is a proven winner worldwide and the hosting team of Adam, Tanner and Eric that we have brought together for the U.S. version offers a perfect match of humor, insider know-how and priceless track experience," says Craig Plestis, head of alternative programming at NBC. "We are going to create a high-powered show that, like the original, will keep viewers in every demographic clutching the edge of their seats."

Clarkson, who's an executive producer of the BBC show (but won't be involved in the NBC show), also gives an endorsement of the trio. "This is fantastic news -- but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road, I've no idea."

Carolla, whose involvement was announced earlier this year, is a self-professed gearhead who counts classic Lamborghinis and two Ferraris among his car collection. The recent "Dancing with the Stars" contestant hosts a syndicated radio show from L.A.

Stromer hosts the HGTV show "Over Your Head" and has appeared on TLC's "Clean Sweep" and NBC's "Three Wishes." He's also a frequent guest on Carolla's radio show.

Foust is the 2007 Formula Drift Pro Drift champion and has worked on a stunt driver on several films, including "The Bourne Ultimatum" and "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift." He's also hosted the Speed Channel's "Redline TV."

Tod Mesirow ("Monster Garage") and Kevin Harris ("The Apprentice") are executive producing for NBC.