Ben Collins claims he is The Stig
Top Gear, and indeed the BBC, have kept the Stig’s identity a closely-guarded secret for many years. But according to the Daily Telegraph, Ben Collins (from Bristol) recently revealed that he is the Stig.
Ben Collins’ motorsport career started in 1994, competing in Formula First and Formula Vauxhall Junior on his way to International Formula 3, before moving on to Le Mans, GT and NASCAR.
According to The Telegraph, 34-year old Ben Collins let the secret slip when he asked staff at a Bristol gallery to help him produce a limited-edition print of The Stig in action, his intention being to later sell 450 copies for £318 each (£143,100 total).
Other fans of Top Gear, along with this blogger, have been trying to establish the identity of The Stig for many years. Some weight was given to a YouTube clip showing The Stig, in full race gear, talking with a Bristol accent to a foreign TV crew; the video then cut to Ben Collins sounding similar.
BBC Top Gear’s presenters (Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May) have consistently denied that Ben Collins is The Stig.
Collins himself has always denied being The Stig too, but this is to be expected as he would almost certainly lose the role if he admitted it. What is beyond dispute however is that he has appeared on Top Gear as himself on various occasions, perform various driving roles.
In response to the rumour, James May denied that Ben Collins is the Stig.
It has of course been widely speculated that many people share the role of the Stig. Other suggestions as to who the Stig may be have included: Julian Bailey, Damon Hill, Tim Schrick, and even (on occasion) Russ Swift.
A Top Gear spokesman said: “We never comment on speculation as to who or what The Stig is.”
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