Identity of BBC show’s masked driver remains unknown
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:
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. If you know different, leave a comment…
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25 responses so far
1 AvP // Apr 11, 2008 at 2:22 pm
I know for a fact that Ben has played The Stig on a number of shows, i cant revel my source tho
2 Ken // Apr 11, 2008 at 2:35 pm
I’ve heard from someone involved in motor racing that it’s definately Ben Collins.
3 Neal // Apr 11, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Julian Bailey.
4 john // Apr 12, 2008 at 3:24 am
Its Jonny Herbert…
5 joe // Apr 12, 2008 at 10:45 am
why dont you put up a store as the head line surgest you idiot fool why wast our time, o well i can see blogging is not your thing go get you self a life and a day job f’;.’@@%$£$£ idiot
6 Jeremy Clarkson // Apr 12, 2008 at 12:22 pm
I think you’ll find its Max Mosley
7 Paul // Apr 12, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Before I even read the article I turned to the wife and said “I reckon Ben Collins is the Stig”.
I also remember Collins taking part in the show when he raced a teenaged boy down a grassy hill in a rally car!!
8 Sunday Driver // Apr 14, 2008 at 4:11 pm
That Joe has a lovely turn of phrase
9 @mmonyte // Apr 18, 2008 at 10:40 am
It is Ben Collins. He appeared without the helmet in several episodes e.g. He was the driver when that bloke tried to parachute into a moving car.
10 The Stig // May 1, 2008 at 5:53 am
All shall be revealed in 2013…
11 Jay Leno // Jun 28, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I recently interviewed the stig and it has come to my attention that his true identity is… Chuck Norris
12 The Stig's Tailor // Jul 1, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Jay’s Racewear make The Stig’s racesuits…they know who he is….
13 Dan // Jul 28, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Whilst ti would be great to know the identity of the stig, would it not take away the whole excitement of not knowing???
14 Gr4nty // Aug 3, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Don’t you think it’s weird how the stig varies in height most episodes, but as for the Ben Collins theory, who knows, he most likely played him before as BBC probably don’t want a permanemt Stig incase his true identity slips out again, but theres rumors BBC are planning to hire retired F1 driver Micheal Schumacher as their permanemt Stig but who cares to be honest, “Some say he, is not actually a he and is a she? All we know it’s called the Stig” This quote could suggest Stig to be a woman for all we know, how about the Núrburgring driver (forgot her name but presents the German equivalent of TopGear, DMotor or something like that) so as for the Stigs real identity, well let’s just say it’s the best kept secret since UFO’s (And don’t argue back and say OMG UFO’s are real or arn’t because that’s not the topic”.
15 Racehound // Aug 4, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I cant believe none of you recognise the voice of Damon Hill during that interview1!!! Absolutely no doubt in my mind that is Damon Hill in the racesuit on that occasion at least!!!
16 q // Aug 5, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I good friend friend who works on the show revealesd to once that stig is a saffa named Gary Dowman
17 michael // Oct 13, 2008 at 9:21 am
now you know why they cant find Osama BinLaden?????
18 Delano // Nov 24, 2008 at 8:40 am
The stig used for the track is always the same (so as to keep the laps consistent and fair) They might use other racing drivers (as with the Isle of man test with the Aston, M6 and 911.) as it has nothing to do with the consistency of the track.
19 danny // Dec 18, 2008 at 2:23 am
ben collins is fat hes gt a belly on him stig dnt stig is two tall 2 b ben collins tom chillton looks a gud bet at the min hes always on there anyway or damon hill wud make sense ben collins used to do it he ws the first white stig bt its changed twice since then
20 Neal // Dec 18, 2008 at 10:20 am
Heikki Kovalainen was the Stig when they tested the Renault F1 car.
21 savvy // Jan 7, 2009 at 12:32 pm
the stig is mark higgins……he was also a stunt driver for the latest bond film. twas let slip on TG
22 coleman james // Feb 13, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Hmm, they could always send him up on another Top Gear space shuttle… Kill him off with a bang.
Haha.
But the stig’s just given a new press conference. Found it on this site:
http://cogito.faii.net/stig-press-conference/
23 Doug // Apr 3, 2009 at 10:36 pm
The female Ring Taxi driver who drove the Transit van round on Tog Gear was Sabine Schmitz.
24 jack // Jun 21, 2009 at 7:40 pm
its schumacher its been revealed
25 whisper the alien // Jul 10, 2009 at 12:44 am
two suggestions its either one the gray alien from all the si fi films
but i reckon it is bloody Bono the T%$T gets every where gotta be him funerals party p broadcasts every where
there should be another site called guess where bonos not 2day