who is the stig on top gear?

Answer 1

the stig

Answer 2

The Stig's true identity is never revealed on the show, and in order to maintain the secrecy, all shots show him wearing full racing overalls and matching helmet. All that can be seen from the gap between his helmet and jumpsuit is that he is a white male. It is also known that he wears size 10 racing boots as discovered by the Sunday Times when the Driving section wrote an article about the show.

Officially there have been two Stigs. The first Stig (who wore black overalls and helmet) was "killed off" at the start of the third season when he was shown driving over the edge of the HMS Invincible during a stunt and landing in the sea. He was replaced by a new Stig (wearing all white) who is the current driver on the show.

The identity of the first Stig was revealed to be Perry McCarthy when his book Flat Out, Flat Broke was published in 2003. McCarthy is a former Formula 1 driver and test driver for the Benetton, Arrows and Williams teams, and also tested for BMW F1.

The identity of the new Stig has not been officially revealed. However, rumours abound that several racers take the role of the Stig in various capacities. In a Winter Olympics special episode of Top Gear, the Stig was shown doing a ski jump using a snowmobile. According to the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet, the snowmobile driver performing the ski jump stunt was Dan Lang, a Swedish snowmobile cross driver.In January 2006, the Daily Express claimed that the identity of the Stig is former Formula 1 driver Julian Bailey.


Mark Webber with an "I AM THE STIG" T-shirt presented to him by Jeremy.Some fans of the show have speculated that the current Stig is a former or current Formula 1 driver. The show has capitalized on this speculation by hosting several F1 drivers on the program, ambiguously hinting that any of them may be the Stig without ever revealing his true identity. The Top Gear websites also lists The Stig under the F1 drivers section.

On the episode of June 26, 2005, Damon Hill appeared as the Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. When asked by Clarkson if he was the Stig, Hill did not deny it. Mark Webber was interviewed on July 31, 2005 and at the conclusion of his lap Clarkson presented him with an "I AM THE STIG" T-shirt. Webber was then warned not to wear it around the F1 paddock, as "Michael doesn't always wear red".

When former F1 driver Nigel Mansell appeared on the show, Jeremy Clarkson noted that the Stig theorized that the Suzuki Liana (the show's "reasonably priced car" at the time) could achieve a 1:44 time on the track. Mansell proved the Stig's theory by lapping in a time of 1:44.6.

During the review of Jenson Button's lap, Clarkson commented that he, as did most of the other F1 drivers, took very different lines than the Stig. Button commented that "...obviously, the Stig isn't a Formula One Driver.

Answer 3

Stig 1 was Perry McCarthy
Stig 2 (the current Stig) is thought to be Ben Collins

Answer 4

MB got it right although when they have tested an F1 car the stig was changed to someone approved by the F1 car company, ie Renault.

I also heard the Aircraft carrier stunt for the death of Stig 1 had a diffrent driver too.

Answer 5

Apparently, there are a few "stigs" on top gear. I think One of them was an ex F1 driver called Perry Mcarthy

Answer 6

I met one of the producers of top gear and over a couple of pints he said if I guessed the stig he would tell me if I am right (thus not directly telling me - you see?) anyway after a while I guessed Damon Hill and he nodded and told me not too tell anyone - oops!! (I think they use specialist drivers for tricky stunts eg going down ski slopes)

Answer 7

Martin Blundell

Answer 8

Arthur Scargil

Answer 9

Pete Sampras

Answer 10

Only guessing, but I think it's somebody who was already working for another UK motoring show, and their contract doesn't allow them to APPEAR on similar programmes.

So the producers came up with the 'never takes of his hat' idea (actually a bit of innuendo from 'smokey and the bandit') so that they could use him on the show, without having to show him in use...