Tag: stig

Identity of the Stig revealed… again [spoiler alert, maybe]

Filed under: UK, Celebrities

Is everything made by Aston Martin better than everything made by Ferrari? Is the Porsche 911 really nothing more than a glorified Volkswagen? Is a three-wheeled Reliant Robin the best possible choice as a replacement for the out-of-service space shuttle? And, finally, Who is the Stig?

These are the ongoing questions asked time and time again by fans of the hit British motoring show Top Gear. And, in the case of the Stig, that topic is also one of Google’s most often searched queries. Interestingly enough, those in the know claim they’ve had the answer for quite some time.

If you don’t want the elaborate ruse to be spoiled, stop reading now. Still with us? Okay, good. It’s Ben Collins. Allegedly. In this particular case, though, the evidence seems almost indisputable since it comes from financial information obtained from Collins Autosport, Ben Collins’ own company.

According to the paperwork, the former Formula Three racing driver had a big increase in pay in 2003, which just so happens to be the first year in which the White Stig took over for the recently deceased Black Stig. That income was reportedly from “driving services provided for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear programme.” So there you go. Mystery solved?

P.S. – Can we get that autobiography already, then?

[Source: Telegraph]

Identity of the Stig revealed… again [spoiler alert, maybe] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: BBC blocking The Stig’s memoirs

Filed under: Etc., Celebrities

Some say he’s a literary giant, and that a portion of his autobiography is featured on the Rosetta Stone. All we know is, he’s ticked off the BBC bosses by seeking to publish his memoirs. According to UKPA and ESPN, the tame racing driver has written the tale of his life and wants to share it with the world. The only problem is doing so would violate the confidentiality agreement in the Stig’s contract. The Beeb is also arguing that revealing his identity would ruin Top Gear for the millions of fans of the show around the world.

Supposedly there are only a scant few people who actually know the Stig’s true identity, including Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond. As the UKPA points out, each of those presenters has gone on to other money-making projects outside of the Top Gear realm, leaving the poor Stig to take out his frustrations on the reasonably-priced car. We don’t necessarily see what the BBC is so concerned about. It’s not like anyone reads Morse code these days anyway.

[Source: UKPA, ESPN]

Report: BBC blocking The Stig’s memoirs originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 13:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Bugatti Veyron SS takes on Top Gear test track at hands of the Stig

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Bugatti

The Stig takes on the Bugatti Veyron SS – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Recently, the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport made headlines by setting a new land speed record, hitting 267.81 miles per hour out on Volkswagen’s Ehra-Lessien test track. It may be the fastest production car ever built, but straight-line speed isn’t everything, you know. Just ask the Top Gear boys – the standard-spec Bugatti Veyron may be an insanely fast machine, but out on the test track, it failed to earn first (or even second or third) place honors.

Naturally, it didn’t take long for Top Gear to get the new Veyron SS in the hands of its tame racing driver, The Stig. Captain Slow may have managed the top-rung Bugatti up to 259.11 mph, but how does it fare on the track? Does it take the first place spot, or merely fall somewhere near the top? Hit the jump to watch the video of Stiggy’s power lap and find out for yourself.

Gallery: Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sports land speed record

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Bugatti Veyron SS takes on Top Gear test track at hands of the Stig

Video: Bugatti Veyron SS takes on Top Gear test track at hands of the Stig originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz channel their inner Stig on Top Gear

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Kia, UK, Celebrities

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz on Top Gear – Click above to watch the video after the jump

Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz have been all over the world pushing their not-so-blockbuster movie Knight and Day, and while moviegoers haven’t exactly filled local theaters, enthusiasts should most definitely witness the Hollywood A-listers on the latest episode of Top Gear. The two stars appeared on our favorite BBC show to compete against other celebrities in “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car,” and their performance far outshines their recent box office receipts.

Hit the jump to watch as the two push hard around the Top Gear track in a KIA Cee’d. We won’t ruin the results for you, but we will reveal that Diaz shows that she can swear like a trucker while looking good with a helmet on, and Cruise proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is a very competitive guy. Seriously, the man literally finishes the race on two wheels, nearly giving Clarkson a heart attack in the process. Who got the better part of their co-star? You’ll have to watch to find out.

[Source: Top Gear via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz channel their inner Stig on Top Gear

Video: Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz channel their inner Stig on Top Gear originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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