Fassbender comes third on Top Gear challenge

Actor Michael Fassbender battled icy conditions to become the third fastest driver on Top Gear's racetrack challenge.

The Shame actor got behind the wheel of a hatchback for a circuit lap as part of the programme's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car slot.

The track had to be cleared of ice beforehand as the challenge took place during a snowstorm earlier this month.

Despite the treacherous driving conditions, the movie star showed his impressive motoring skills by racing around the track with ease in footage shown on Sunday night.

He was left stunned when he was told he had beaten the times of Tom Cruise, Ryan Reynolds and Cameron Diaz to take third place on the leaderboard with his lap of one minute, 42.8 seconds.

A thrilled Fassbender said, "I was not expecting that."

Friends star Matt LeBlanc is the fastest celebrity on the Top Gear leaderboard at one minute, 42.1 seconds, while Rowan Atkinson is a close second at one minute 42.2 seconds.