Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Top Gear's Stig is unmasked

Reuters
Tuesday 20 January 2009 17:49 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

His identity has always been a closely guarded secret but now British media claim to have unmasked anonymous professional test car driver "The Stig" from the popular BBC motoring show "Top Gear."

Each episode of the cult show sees The Stig whizzing around tracks in powerful cars wearing a white jumpsuit with his features hidden by a white crash helmet.

The original Stig was axed from the show after British racing car driver Perry McCarthy revealed his identity in an autobiography in 2002.

Fans had speculated that his replacement could be a well-known figure such as former Formula One world champion Damon Hill.

But according to media reports, Stig is in fact Ben Collins, who began his racing career in 1994 and drove at Formula 3 level. He also featured as a stuntman in the latest James Bond film "Quantum of Solace."

His secret was apparently unveiled after he went to a photographic studio to commission a series of prints of The Stig in action.

"We never comment on speculation as to whom or what The Stig is," a BBC spokeswoman said.

However one show insider allegedly told the Times newspaper the revelation was "bloody annoying"

"You wouldn't write a piece saying that Santa didn't exist," the insider went on to say.

It is not the first time Collins' name has been linked with the mystery driver.

A Health and Safety report into a serious 2006 crash involving presenter Richard Hammond said Collins "worked closely with Top Gear as a high performance driver and consultant."

Despite test-driving some of the fastest and most expensive vehicles in the world for the TV show, media reports said he owned and drove a car worth a modest 15,000 pounds.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in