Top Gear fans may think he’s superhuman but it has been revealed that The Stig is actually a mere mortal…
…former racer and James Bond stunt driver Ben Collins.
The true identity of the character was revealed at the weekend after The Telegraph of London broke with convention and outed Collins.
“We never comment on speculation as to who or what the Stig is,” a Top Gear spokesman told the paper.
The mystery began to unravel after a report that The Stig had revealed his identity to printers who were working on promotional photographs for him.
Photographer Simon Whitehead told The Bristol Evening Post was shocked when the customer made the revelation.
“I was absolutely amazed when he said he was The Stig, it was quite a big thing in a weird way,” he said.
“I suppose he had to tell us because he was planning to work with us in the future and had to get it out of the way.”
Despite Mr Whitehead refusing to name him it gave the British press enough information to confirm Collins as The Stig.
An accident report into presenter Richard Hammond’s crash in September 2006 recorded that Collins had “worked closely with Top Gear as a high performance driver and consultant”.
The Stig had also been heard speaking in a Bristol accent and Collins has the driving credentials to qualify for the job.
He began his motor sport career in 1994 and has raced at Le Mans and in NASCAR, Formula Three and in GT.
He has also worked as Daniel Craig’s stunt driver in Quantum of Solace and he was in the army for four years.
Earlier this month, News of the World reported The Stig lived in a $650,000 home with his wife and once had a shot as a Formula 1 driver.
And what may shock fans of the British car show most is that this star doesn’t get around in a Ferrari or Maserati. He drives a reasonably priced, $32,000 car. |
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