Ashique Thahir is all 'Geared up' for the new season of car and country

“Life is a journey and I try to make the best out of it!” says Ashique Thahir. Ashique, who hails from Wayanad, is the co-host and co-producer of ‘Car and Country’, a show on UK Amazon Prime. “The idea of producing a show was born out of my love for travel and cars,” he said.

“Though the idea came up in 2016, we took some time to develop the concept for a bigger platform,” said Ashique. “The show is not scripted, as we felt that spontaneous conversations would make it more relatable and interesting. We wanted our audience to see places, experience various cultures and meet new people through our eyes,” he added.

The first season of the show was shot in France. Ashique said, “We focused on exploring the countryside, various towns as well as the major attractions of the country. Though we had a clear plan on the places we had to visit, the show evolved around our excitement in seeing a new place and understanding different cultures,” he said.

His love for cars drove him to include a visit to ‘Cite de l’automobile’ in his show. “It is an automobile museum at Mulhouse in France, with a classic collection of Bugatti vehicles from all around the world. Our main aim was to explore the range of vintage cars that the museum offers for rent. Out of sheer excitement, I rented a Chevrolet Corvette to travel for the next two days, though we didn’t have any plans as such. It was like a dream come true moment for us!” he said.

Apart from being an avid traveler, Ashique is also a car enthusiast who owns ‘The Best Garage’ with numerous sports cars in Kerala. “Unlike other sports car owners, I love to drive a sports car any day,” he added. His cars, which have clocked over several kilometers, have been featured in several automobile magazines.

Ashique is also an integral part of his family business ‘Team Thai’. He mentioned that his father is his biggest support system, who recognised his dreams and encouraged him to pursue them. He said, “My dream is to visit more underrated travel destinations in the world. I had travelled to Georgia and Baku just before the lockdown began last year. Travelling keeps me alive.”

Speaking about the biggest compliment he has received, Ashique said, “My cousin once told me that she would have watched the show even if I was not a part of it. I was overwhelmed to hear it!”

Ashique completed his post-graduation in marketing from the University of Central England, Birmingham. The production of the second season of ‘Car and Country’will begin by the end of 2021. “We are in talks on streaming the show for Indian audience. The show will also be available for the US audience soon,” he said.

 

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