Scott Larsen (Creator & Executive Producer) and Jonathan Arthur (Producer), who produce hit television show Wipeout, have another over-the-top series on the horizon. Whipped, presented by Castrol, is an automotive based game and racing show set to premiere on national cable television network SPEED in 2012.
The concept is simple; four contestants battle each other while driving around various metal contraptions and giant swinging objects that make up an intimidating automotive obstacle course. Then, the last challenger standing is prepped for one final hurdle – at speed. It's a new twist on an already popular formula, as the Whipped production team rethinks how a 'race track' could be constructed.
According to Arthur, "audiences should buckle up and enjoy the ride.
"Participants are going challenge by challenge with a single elimination per round, until there is one contestant left," said Arthur, executive producer on the show. "That last contestant then gets into our high-powered, race-prepped car to attempt the 'Ultimate Challenge.' How well they do, determines how much we trick out their ride."
What's the catch? The challengers have to use their own vehicles.
"People have been very willing to take a chance. They see the glory behind it, and the opportunity to get the car of their dreams," Arthur explains. "On the day we are explaining the first obstacle to them - and they are face to face with a menacing looking battering ram or a giant metal barrel - they may change their tune a little bit. It's going to make for great television when those contestants are introduced to the obstacles, and we watch their emotions change as they prepare.
"We've seen some well-equipped BMWs, high-powered Mercedes-Benz, Porsches, EVOs and some really nice vehicles," Arthur continued. "We've already had somebody with a $70,000 2011 Mercedes C63 AMG want to compete. It's somebody who's willing to take it through its paces on our course, willing to get it knocked around, have some paint scraped off or windows knocked out - in the name of being the best."
While Wipeout has become one of the most iconic shows within pop culture television, the Whipped series may speak a little more to the producers.
"Scott and I are both 'car enthusiasts' and have spent years behind the wheel, with different cars and even trucks," Arthur said. "So, it's a 'passion project' that we've put together here. For Scott, being the creator of Wipeout, it wasn't difficult for him to put this together conceptually, and I came on board shortly thereafter."
The project is produced by Scott Larsen and Jonathan Arthur for Hey Larsen, Inc., and Adam Rosenblatt, Christian Horner and Jamie Rosenblatt for H2R Productions.