Newly announced Top Gear co-host Matt LeBlanc has challenged his Episodes co-star Stephen Mangan to a Top Gear duel.

Top Gear fans were taken by surprise when the show’s new host, Chris Evans, announced that Friends star LeBlanc would be his co-presenter when the rebooted show launches in May.

Matt, known for playing Friends’ loveable Joey Tribbiani, is no stranger to Top Gear, having appeared on the last incarnation of the show twice.

Following the announcement of his appointment, he responded to a comment from Mangan, who starred alongside him in the BBC-Showtime series Episodes.

Stephen re-tweeted a photo of Chris, Matt and The Stig, commenting: “Still annoyed they made me wear that helmet.”

LeBlanc replied to him with a witty challenge.

He was referring to his first 2012 appearance which saw him set the fastest-ever time for a celebrity lap around the Top Gear track.

According to the official Top Gear website, he set an unbeaten lap time of 1m 42.1s in a Kia cee’d.

The American actor also thanked fans for their kind words as he posted a candid snap of himself.

Welcome to the Top Gear family, Matt.