Matt LeBlanc joins Top Gear

An important piece of the new Top Gear puzzle has fallen into place overnight with the announcement American actor Matt LeBlanc is to join main host Chris Evans.

LeBlanc is best known for his role as Joey in the long-running sitcom Friends, however he is also a bona-fide petrolhead, with a Ferrari 458 Italia and Mercedes-Benz ML63 AMG in the garage.

The US star is also a big motorsport fan, regularly attending F1 races around the globe.

Based on the show's previous format, there is still at least one host to be announced, with internet rumour suggesting UK motoring journalist Chris Harris will fill the spot.

Harris is certainly involved in some form, as he appears in a picture tweeted by Chris Evans following the LeBlanc announcement.

However, whether he is a host is another matter. Harris shut down his Patraeon account recently, which he used to crowd fund his videos productions, stating in a letter to supporters "I am now working on a new project [which] will allow involve me making videos on the internet which you won't have to pay for." Doesn't sound like Top Gear.

German racing driver Sabine Schmitz has also been linked with a hosting role, and was recently seen in spy shots shooting with Evans, however it would be a left-field choice.

The new series of Top Gear is expected to appear in the second quarter of 2016.