DriveTribe, a new online community for car fans from former Top Gear presenters Clarkson, Hammond and May, has secured a £4.9 million investment from 21st Century Fox.
Co-founded by the presenters and long-time producer Andy Wilman, the site will run parallel to their new show The Grand Tour, which is due to air on Amazon Prime this autumn.
Aiming to be “the world’s digital hub for motoring”, DriveTribe is expected to launch in November and will invite writers, videographers and enthusiasts to generate and curate their own content.
Due to launch in November
In a statement, CEO of the Fox Networks Group Peter Rice said: “We saw the DriveTribe platform and we were blown away by its ingenuity.
“We’re excited to collaborate with the DriveTribe team on this new approach to digital content and to help them expand their business on a worldwide basis.”
It’s unclear what Fox’s role will be in the site, but DriveTribe is also working alongside a string of high-profile entrepreneurs like Anthony Rose, one of the people behind BBC’s iPlayer.
High-profile talent
The site has also hired former BuzzFeed UK managing editor Cate Sevilla as its director of content, while Zeebox founder Ernesto Schmitt will serve as its chief executive.
Schmitt said: “21st Century Fox are a world-leading media business with a track record of extraordinary savviness and innovation.
“It’s extremely pleasing to have 21st Century Fox take note of our venture, and we look forward to working with them on redefining how audiences discover and engage with content, through the use of technology and community.”
