Fans of Top Gear who have watched The Stig race cars around a deserted aerodrome in the UK have always been curious about the Stig’s identity. His body and face are concealed beneath a white driving suit with a full face helmet.
Now The Times of London has identified the mystery figure, the man who never takes his helmet off. Known as the BBC’s “Tame racing driver” his identity has been revealed as Ben Collins, a former NASCAR, Le Mans, Formula Three and GT racer. He’s from Bristol in the country’s west.
Collins is no slouch at the racing game and has doubled for Daniel Craig in the Quantum of Solace, the new Bond movie. As The Stig, 33-year-old Collins has a cult following around the world. The BBC and the program have always refused to reveal his identity and Collins has declined because of fears he could lose his job.
The Times reports that The Stig, whose first name is THE, has served in the army, worked as a manager for Scalextric cars and as a television presenter. A myriad of explanations as to how he was identified have been put forward but Collins has refused to comment.
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His identity is so secret even Paint and Panel couldn’t get a regular pic of him.