The stig/legal row hmm ?

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/80320/be...ig-apparently/

Ben Collins is the Stig, apparently
By Brett Davis | August 23rd, 2010

One of the best-kept secrets of the automotive world was uncovered over the weekend. Top Gear’s famously unidentified ‘Stig’ driving specialist is, according to reports, Ben Collins.



A recent report by the Sunday Times in England revealed a contract that was signed by Collins Autosport – a company owned by Ben Collins – and the BBC, in 2003. The contract stated Collins Autosport would provide ‘driving services for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear program,’ offering ‘good long-term prospects and continuing income.’

Although no names are specifically mentioned in the contract, speculators say BBC signed with the Collins company on purpose so names couldn’t be isolated.

The news isn’t much of a surprise to the deepest of Top Gear fans though. About two years ago, Ben Collins was reported to have identified himself as the Stig in a photo frame shop in Bristol, UK. Reports said Ben approached the shop worker with a very unique portrait of the Stig and said that it was him.

Keen fans of the older episodes may also remember Ben Collins stepping in as the in-house stunt driver for various skits and challenges, openly introduced as Ben Collins.

So although the news isn’t completely definite, hard evidence is difficult to ignore. No word yet if the character will remain in the show, or if Ben will continue to work for the BBC program. Fans and producers are worried that dropping the character off the show may impair its overall success.

[XR Davo]

Read an interview with Mark Blundell in Motorsport mag a while back and he admitted he was the original Back Stig.

[Wardo]

I think you'll find the original Stig was Perry McCarthy.

Perry McCarthy

[321Go]

Originally Posted by flappist

I see an episode of top gear where the Stig races against Ben Collins and wins (of course no one has seen Rubens Barachello anywhere that day).

Rubens Barrichello has beaten the Stig in the reasonably priced car hot lap if I'm not mistaken. Currently tops the list of 'expert/F1' drivers.

[mrbaxr6t]

what about the finnish retired guy that was teaching captain slow to drive like a fin damn brain can't remember his damn name

<edit> whay cant we have a black stig vs white stig moment I would be liking that

[AussieAV]

Mika Hakkinen

[aussie muscle]

The BBC's commercial arm is behind products such as Stig shower gel and a Stig soap-on-a-rope, but The Stig does not make any money from them.

in future, give him a cut of merchandising... problem solved.

[LXL15]

I'm fairly certain it's multiple people, just because surely one guy isn't available all the time, as well as the issues with the F1 teams not allowing other drivers into their cars. But also, every time a F1 driver goes around the track in the reasonably priced car, Clarkson always comments on how they take a much different line through the first (possibly second?) corner than anyone else, including the Stig. So if the Stig was an ex-F1, wouldn't he also follow that line?

Sure, whoever drove the Renault had to be ex-F1, as demonstrated by Hammond's failed attempts at driving it a while back haha.

So...no idea then.

[DBourne]

Originally Posted by MO

Good point who have you got in mind?

Certainly not Danica Patrick hahaha, otherwise every car would be in the wall

[GTpilot]

oh jeez. Stop kidding yourselves, 3 pages of banter?
Come on, We all know it's Woosha!

[b0son]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

in future, give him a cut of merchandising... problem solved.

thats probably the crux of it ... so much TG merchandise is Stig-centric, and he probably gets none of the $$$.

its a bit like the cast of Hi-5... replaceable, and cheaper to employ as a result.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by SgtBourne

Certainly not Danica Patrick hahaha, otherwise every car would be in the wall

and not Leanne Tander ... Garth cant afford to pay for the drive.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by 870-cse

Rubens Barrichello has beaten the Stig in the reasonably priced car hot lap if I'm not mistaken. Currently tops the list of 'expert/F1' drivers.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/23/i...r-alert-maybe/

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

by Jeremy Korzeniewski (RSS feed) on Aug 23rd 2010 at 1:28PM

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]

[Revolver]

Mystery Solved? "Driving services" Is a broad subject. He could be one of the guys of when they are racing/testing more than one car. Apart from when its not another presenter or the stig, Ive noticed that they never do any in-car/closeup footage of the other car. Always wondered that.

Not to mention there is a film clip of "The Stig" on you tube, where he speaks to an interviewer, - she asks, "why did they pick you", stig says, "because I'm the best". However, I dont know Ben Collins voice, or if it is even the same person all the time.

Or maybe he just drives one of the Top Gears Range Rover Camera Cars!

[aussie muscle]

Originally Posted by Blue Beast II

Or maybe he just drives one of the Top Gears Range Rover Camera Cars!

why would you hire a Formula 3 driver to go around in a camera car?

any one with a license and half a brain could do that (which excludes half the audience of top gear).

[MO]

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

why would you hire a Formula 3 driver to go around in a camera car?

any one with a license and half a brain could do that (which excludes half the audience of top gear).

AM,think about it.

[vztrt]

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/29/s...ires-the-stig/

Some say he's Ben sacked! BBC reportedly fires The Stig

by Frank Filipponio (RSS feed) on Aug 29th 2010 at 9:25AM

We saw this one coming; the BBC has apparently sacked The Stig. Britain's Daily Mirror tabloid reports that the Stig, a.k.a. Ben Collins, has been let go and that a new Stig has already replaced him on Top Gear. In fact, the Mirror says it already have pics of the new Stig at a Nürburgring track event, wearing the signature white coveralls and smoked visor helmet. How does the paper know it's not Collins in the photos? Simple: it had another photographer at Ben's house – 1,100 miles away – watching Collins play with his children at the same time.

The firing of the Stig comes a week after a battle erupted over Collins' autobiography, slated for release in September. Details about the Stig's true identity have been trickling out for some time, including the recent discovery that Collins Auto-Sport, a company owned and operated by Ben Collins, claimed income from "driving services for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear programme."

Of course, this could still just be speculation, and TG may have hired another driver just for that one track event. If Collins has indeed been canned and the show follows form, a segment will be filmed showing the demise of the white Stig and the appearance of his replacement. At least that's what they did when the original black-clad Stig, Perry McCarthy, left the show. Wonder what colors the new Stig will fly...

[Source: The Daily Mirror]

[vztrt]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/81742/be...laced-already/

Ben Collins sacked as Top Gear’s Stig and replaced already
By Brett Davis | August 30th, 2010

Ben Collins aka The Stig, Top Gear’s tame racing driver, has apparently been sacked from the show after he announced the release of his new autobiography. The book is said to be released on September 16.

A replacement then? Well, reports say BBC has already hired a replacement ‘Stig’. The new character was spotted at a recent Nurburgring car event whilst, at the same time, Ben Collins was photographed at his home in western UK. It’s unknown what the Top Gear crew was filming exactly but it certainly puts an end to the Stig’s mystery identity and to Ben Collins’ great job as the world’s most famous test driver.

Ben Collins owns his own autosport company which specialises in all things racing and driving. Collins himself has raced in Formula 3, British Touring cars, the FIA GT Championship and even in our own Bathurst V8 Supercar race teamed with Nathan Pretty in the Kelly/Jack Daniel’s Racing car. He’s also been the test driver for various NASCAR teams and has even tested Formula 1 cars.

Collins’ stint as the Stig started in 2003, giving him a good seven years of solid fun behind the wheel of almost every modern sports and exotic car you care to mention. He might have been sacked, but he’s certainly provided us with a lot of great comparisons and even showcased some funny acting skills.

*Image source: Mirror.co.uk

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by vztrt

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/08/29/s...ires-the-stig/

In fact, the Mirror says it already have pics of the new Stig at a Nürburgring track event, wearing the signature white coveralls and smoked visor helmet.

Wonder what colors the new Stig will fly...

Err, what?

For all we know Ben Collins could drive one of the other cars during their drag races or something.