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No More Secrets: Ben Collins is The Stig

September 2, 2010 by  
Filed under Automotive, Featured, News, Top Gear

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Professional race car driver Ben Collins has been identified through the High Court of London as The Stig after BBC looses court case. BBC’s Top Gear show is undoubtedly one of the most popular automotive shows among car enthusiasts and we have always wondered who the face was underneath the white helmet and race gear. Now we know who he is!

If you remember, Perry McCarthy was the previous Stig as it was revealed in his autobiography ‘Flat Out, Flat Broke’. Since 2003 the mystery of who flogged the crap out of cars around the Top Gear test track faded into a trivial guessing game.

Top Gear over the years thrived on the marketing success of keeping the identity of the Stig a secret. Yesterday during the BBC’s court case the lawyers said the BBC had been refused an injunction blocking publication of a book that revealed the identity of the Stig. Right after, publishers HarperCollins said in a statement that a 33-year-old racing driver named Ben Collins “has a great story to tell about his seven years as The Stig, which will appeal to a wide audience beyond just motoring enthusiasts.” HarperCollins said the book will be published in Britain on September 16th and called the situation a “victory for freedom of speech”. Now after every victory lap the Stig does from here-on-out we will all know who is really behind the wheel.

[source: InsideLine, Ben Collins photo credit: Associated Press]

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Comments

  • Angry

    I think everybody should boycott the book!!! Avoid putting money in his pocket as thats all he’s trying to achive!!!He was paid to keep the secret…. He was given a dream job for many a person and has thrown it back in everyone’s face by capitalizing on a book, and I think he should be charged royalties for every time “The Stig” appears in the book!!! Surely the BBC can find something in his contract to get back what he has taken away from us all???

  • Levi

    Top Gear will come up with something better.

  • Neil

    Top Gear will probably make fun of this news… Jeremy Clarkson will introduce him: “Some say, he is Ben Collins, but others still have no clue who the Stig is despite the fact that it was posted on every single automotive site and news organization in the world.” Everyone is still going to laugh. This will probably make TopGear even more popular!

  • Mark

    Fire him. Get a new Stig. Write a better terms of employment contract

  • Jay Wright

    Long Live THE STIG aka Ben Collins! BBC will just have to give clarkson some new lines to introduce him. maybe he can start talking now. pssssh

  • Wizzer

    Mark, they should hire Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button! I didn’t think he (Ben) was that good of a driver anyway.

  • Nick

    Well thats interesting. In one of the more recent Top Gear episodes, they unmasked “The Stig” and it was Michael Schumacher. …interesting…

  • Jaxson

    Ben was fired. BBC will have a new STIG on Top Gear.

  • Dave

    Stig was idolised by thousands of people, they bought everything with him on, t-shirts, books, etc.
    Then he takes his helmet off and everyone slates him!!
    It just proves how fickle Top Gear fans are! I bet they dont even realise Old Man Clarkson blows all their licence money on driving cars that 99% of them will never be able to afford!
    Fickle or jusy plain Fick.
    Well done Ben Collins, I hope your book makes you a fortune

  • martin

    well if Dr who can do it, why cant top gear? get a new man and an altered suit.

  • Pingback: Video: Top Gear Introduces New Stig | Automotive Addicts

  • Tony

    I think Collins is absolutely right and the High Court has vindicated him. Clarkson and his cohorts have reaped millions out of the show, while Collins has had to remain anonymous. Imagine how this must have felt. You can’t gag somebody like this. Well done Ben

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