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[Mikep99]

Who is Top Gear’s The Stig?

Like some undefeated Mexican wrestler, Top Gear’s masked test driver, aka The Stig, has managed to preserve his identity. But as the BBC motoring show’s popularity goes through the roof, more and more people are taking an interest in the man beneath the white Simpson Diamondback helmet. We do know that the first Stig, who wore black overalls and a black helmet, was “played” by Perry McCarthy, a journeyman F1 driver (slight oxymoron that, but you get the idea) who tested for Williams and Benetton in the 1990s. However, McCarthy’s “black Stig” was killed off at the beginning of the third series of the show.


It seems highly likely that several different people have played The Stig. Damon Hill, Michael Schumacher, Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and several other high-profile F1 drivers have been closely linked to the character, but for now we’ll have to keep on guessing. Even the gossip websites have been getting in on the act: Popbitch hints that the driver who plays The Stig “got married this year”, whilst Holy Moly! has claimed that Hamilton has played The Stig on “several occasions”. Intriguing stuff.

According to Wikipedia, The Stig has “talked in an interview with a Dutch TV Channel, Veronica, where he had a distinctly English accent”. And in case you thought that Wiki wasn’t to be trusted, here is a YouTube clip of that interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VihIf1Fi-BM

Doesn’t sound like any F1 driver I know. Could it be that The Stig is Ben Collins, a racing driver who has competed in F3 and Nascar? Following the high-speed accident that almost claimed Richard Hammond’s life in 2006, the Health & Safety Executive report into the event recorded that Collins had “worked closely with Top Gear as a high performance driver and consultant”. This snippet of info has led many fans to speculate that Collins is the man who most often plays The Stig.

Also: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yeQwi-8bCEA

[Rivelution]

People always misunderstand the stig. People beleive that Top Gear has him just to add mystery to the show, but that is partialy true. The main reason the stig is not revealed is because Top Gear wants us to pay more attention to the car, not the driver.

[McLaren Fan]

People always misunderstand the stig. People beleive that Top Gear has him just to add mystery to the show, but that is partialy true. The main reason the stig is not revealed is because Top Gear wants us to pay more attention to the car, not the driver.

At the start that was true, but now the BBC are just capitalising on people's interest to umpalumpa up the show!

[madbrad]

I always just assumed that several people have played the Stig. I assumed that they purposely keep him all disguised so that they can get practically anyone to do the job for a given episode, so they will always be able to get someone to do some driving for them.

[EwanM]

Ben Collins is the stig most of the time. For all the laps around the track, for the car shows etc. Someone got a flash camera right in his face and u seen his eyes through the visor. Was in the sun i think ll.

For the likes of the winter special in Norway they got like a champion snowmobile rider to do that jump. And African Stig and American stig are other people.

[Mikep99]

Eye, eye - so who is The Stig?

AT LAST, the moment Top Gear fans have waited for – mystery figure The Stig is REVEALED.
Well, almost.
This photo through the visor of his crash helmet gives us the best-ever glimpse of the demon driver’s face.
The unknown racer always covers up on the BBC2 show, keeping his ID a well-guarded secret.
But his eyes were exposed in this shot in London yesterday.
So who do you think he is? Leave your comments at the end of the article.
We’ve lined up the most likely candidates in the slideshow.





The Stig impresses F1 champ Alonso

Former double world champion Fernando Alonso has dealt a blow to rumours he is the mysterious character known in motoring circles as 'The Stig'.
The Stig, who always wears plain white racing gear and helmet, is an anonymous and highly-skilled test driver for the British television programme about cars, Top Gear (BBC).
It is often speculated that Alonso, the 26-year-old Spaniard who currently races for Renault, is The Stig.
But the rumour exited the realms of possibility during the recent British grand prix weekend, when The Stig actually appeared in the Silverstone paddock.
He performed some laps of the damp Northamptonshire circuit at the wheel of a two-seater Formula One car - watched on closely by none other than Alonso.
"Whoever's in that car is a seriously good driver," the 19-time grand prix winner is quoted as telling the Top Gear website.
"I've no idea who he is, but he's definitely ex-F1," Alonso added.
The Stig's passenger, a lottery winner, bought the ride in a charity auction for $70,000.

[Dutchcruijff]

Someone mentioned he's Jean Alesi.

[Hanwombat]

That article was originally posted in Feb, hmm I reckon its numerous people

[headless]

Before watching the two youtube videos I said that The Stig was Jason Plato.
But the videos make quite interestng viewing.
The picture where you can see his eyes wont be the real driver. They will have just got some hobo off the street to stand in the overalls.
I'd say it would be one driver for all the laps - as that is the only fair way to measure the ability of the cars.
But it will probably always be a mystery.

[7UpJordan]

That article was originally posted in Feb, hmm I reckon its numerous people

I think so too, especially in circumstances such as the Ski Jump on a snow-mobile and also the car vs underground train vs speedboat vs bike race across London.

[racechick]

Eye, eye - so who is The Stig?

AT LAST, the moment Top Gear fans have waited for – mystery figure The Stig is REVEALED.
Well, almost.
This photo through the visor of his crash helmet gives us the best-ever glimpse of the demon driver’s face.
The unknown racer always covers up on the BBC2 show, keeping his ID a well-guarded secret.
But his eyes were exposed in this shot in London yesterday.
So who do you think he is? Leave your comments at the end of the article.
We’ve lined up the most likely candidates in the slideshow.





The Stig impresses F1 champ Alonso

Former double world champion Fernando Alonso has dealt a blow to rumours he is the mysterious character known in motoring circles as 'The Stig'.
The Stig, who always wears plain white racing gear and helmet, is an anonymous and highly-skilled test driver for the British television programme about cars, Top Gear (BBC).
It is often speculated that Alonso, the 26-year-old Spaniard who currently races for Renault, is The Stig.
But the rumour exited the realms of possibility during the recent British grand prix weekend, when The Stig actually appeared in the Silverstone paddock.
He performed some laps of the damp Northamptonshire circuit at the wheel of a two-seater Formula One car - watched on closely by none other than Alonso.
"Whoever's in that car is a seriously good driver," the 19-time grand prix winner is quoted as telling the Top Gear website.
"I've no idea who he is, but he's definitely ex-F1," Alonso added.
The Stig's passenger, a lottery winner, bought the ride in a charity auction for $70,000.

I dont think those eyes look like anyone of those photographs. they look more like Martin Brundle s eyes. I dont think its him though.

[scotty]

Someone has let me know who has been the Stig in a few cases... basically a mate's dad is one of the assistant cameramen on TG. Don't believe any of this? I don't care!!!

And if you don't want to know then why the hell did you come into this thread!?!?

As has been mentioned already, when The Stig was dressed in Black it was sportscar driver Perry McCarthy, but before Season 3 he got a driving contract so sacked it off.

Luca Badoer (Ferrari Enzo)
Allan McNish (mainly does the prestige Supercars)
Alain Menu
Jason Plato (he was fairly regular - he is contracted to do 5th Gear on Channel 5, but then again, you never see his face...)
Alistair McRae
Colin McRae (obviously, he doesn't do it now... RIP)
Jimmy McRae
Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault F1 Car - apparently the insurance premium for it was astronomical)
Alexander Wurz (im not 100%, but i *think* it was him that almost totalled the Koenigsegg without the spoiler and then set the lap record a few weeks later)
When it is a classic car or a really rare car (like the Maserati C12 a couple of seasons ago) then the Owner puts the outfit on and drives the car.
And when they drove the Toyota indoors it was one of their drivers at the time - R Schumacher/Trulli/Panis/Zonta

EDIT: this info is probably about a year old now, ie not accounting for those who drove the Ascari A10, Caparo T1 etc...

EDIT 2: That pic where you can see the Stig's eyes... kinda looks like it could be Alonso, more than the 3 guys pictured. Don't think it is him though.

[headless]

Is all this from a trustworthy source Scotty?

[EwanM]

When I met James May I put him right on the spot... He said something along the lines of.
"So James, The Stig... it's Ben Collins isn't it?"

James: "Well erm... *pauses and looks up* it's me. IT's true it's me. That's the gag you see i'm Captain slow, but i'm actually the Stig..."

I asked him a few other Questions. But he was far from convincing on that one.

[scotty]

Is all this from a trustworthy source Scotty?

I would say so, yep.