Lego Stig is part of a grand series of racing minifigs, most of them based on Formula One drivers:

Photo Credit: Phil Birkitt

In front of that great white rooster tail is the A2 version of the original Audi Quattro, that snarling, five cylinder Group B menace which would, in Sport Quattro S1 form, prove even more devastating on every conceivable road surface.

The A2 was no slowpoke either: with little more than half the horsepower of the S1, it was good enough for Blomqvist to win five of the 1984 World Rally Championship’s twelve races, including the 1984 Acropolis Rally, where these pictures were taken. Here’s footage of the race, unfortunately with the soundtrack toned down:

But do not despair if your aim is to fill your home or office with the turbocharged pop of Group B. Stig Blomqvist has been racing non-stop since the early Scandinavian flick days of the little two-stroke Saab 96. His senior years hinder neither his racing ability in general nor his skills at handling the Sport Quattro S1 in particular. Observe with volume at 11:

Photo Credit: Audi

Despite being the first to tell you that Stig would lift his helmet during last night's episode and it would be none other than Michael Schumacher underneath, we're now going to provide three reminders to everyone that no, the blonde-haired track-meister's not the only Stig.

First, one look at Shumacher's record-setting time around the Top Gear test track in a Ferrari FXX, and you realize he's not the same Stiggie we've seen on the show the last two seasons. Schumi was more balls-to-the-wall around the corners than the previous incarnation of our beloved Stiggie.

Secondly, Ferrari's only going to let an owner drive the Ferrari FXX. Make sense to us then that since they were testing Schumi's FXX, they'd have Schumi be the Stig.

That makes sense given the truth is, as most know, there have been many drivers who've played the Stig. From the original black-nomex racing suit-encased Stig played by Perry McCarthy, former Formula One racer and test driver for the Benetton, Arrows and Williams teams — to "Big Stig" who we're pretty sure was played by Tony Stewart after ingesting a small cow, there is a different Stig for different needs. And we're pretty sure African Stig was not at all Lewis Hamilton. Basically, we've been told by the BBC there's been no less than eight drivers donning the white nomex.

The most high-profile is Heikki Kovalainen, the 27-year-old Finnish Formula One McLaren driver who is Lewis Hamilton's partner. Forty-one-year-old former GT world championship racing driver Chris Goodwin, from London, has also starred as the Stig. As has fellow Londoner Julian Bailey, a 47-year-old former Formula One racing driver who raced for the Tyrell and Lotus teams.

Stunt driver Terry Grant from Bushey in Hertfordshire has also slipped into the white racing leathers to become the Stig. Stunt driver Russ Swift is another who has become the Stig. Then of course there were those Ben Collins rumors.

Finally, Dan Lang, a Swedish snow mobile racing champion played the Stig in a Top Gear stunt where he jumped a snow mobile off a ski jump. So to every Stig there is a purpose and yesterday's Ferrari FXX season belonged to Schumacher. Who will be the next to turn, turn, turn in the white racing duds? We guess we'll have to tune in to find out. Which is really what the BBC wants.

And that brings us to the third reminder. See, this was totally a tongue-in-cheek PR play. And it worked. We went all ga-ga over the Schumi as Stig story and you know what, so did all of you. And that's cool, because frankly, it was entertaining as hell. And when it comes down to it, we don't watch Top Gear to be informed, we watch Top Gear to be entertained.

Incidentally, on an almost entirely unrelated note — there's some serious props that need to go out to the Beeb for figuring out the importance of not only having a clip up on YouTube of last night's unmasking (we've included it again here), but for having it up within moments of the show's completion. Good work by Her Royal Majesty's TV service for understanding there's people outside of the BBC's broadcast network interested in seeing this momentous occasion — and beating out the thousands who'd be dropping pirated clips up and online. Already the clip's got thousands of comments and tens of thousands of views. Bravo, BBC.

That's right, as we told you last week, The Stig is Michael Schumacher.

According to Top Gear's own blog, Clarkson boasts tomorrow night's episode is "going to be the best thing that's ever been on television ever." Clarkson then reportedly paused for a brief moment before completing his sentence with "...in the world." Clarkson goes on to say

"the Stig barges into the studio and in an atmosphere you could cut with a knife, removes his helmet...as a television moment, it's up there with Neil Armstrong walking on… the corpse of JR Ewing."

While Clarkson goes no further in providing details to the identity of the show's tame race driver, it's more evidence we'll see the Italian Stallion-driving German underneath Stig's white helmet when we eventually see the show pour down upon us like a torrent of rain.

Additionally, Top Gear's site's spilled the beans on a few more details from tomorrow night's show in an exclusive photo gallery — including a first drive of the Lotus Evora and a train vs. bike vs. Jaguak XK120 race. We can't wait for tomorrow night — be here with us as we'll have first-hand reports as soon as the show finishes airing — as well as, perhaps, some super-secret video. We already know it's going to be simply magical.

Photo Credit: Hannah Johnston / Getty Images Entertainment

Want to see the "shocking" "unmasking" of the Stig? Click here!

"I was at the top gear recording earlier on today for the first episode of the new series, and the Stig was revealed to be... Michael Schumacher!! this was very unexpected, but totally believable in the end. His full unmasking will be shown on BBC 1 on saturday at 9pm in the UK! attached are a few shots of his FXX which he was putting around the track. The rest of the episode is a interview with schumacher, a hot lap in the lliana and a race between a steam engine, a bike and a 1940's jaguar.

I hope this is useful!"

Yes, well, here's to hoping it's right! (Hat tip to Malcs!)

We've updated the story with comments off the record from BBC insiders here.

The crew was spotted at Alain Airport on a police-closed road doing their Top Gear thing. It's assumed the team will be comparing the latest crop of super-supercars against the thoroughbred McLaren F1, which is inarguably a high-water mark of the craft. Considering the closed road they're on is almost two miles long, we can assume some fairly high speed runs way out there in the desert sun. This promises to be a good one. [Youtube via WCF]

With less than 30 minutes left to go in the auction, you'd better get your itchy-bidding trigger finger ready 'cause this one's gonna come down to a last minute bidding battle. What exactly are you bidding on? One Stig-signed helmet and Stig-signed racing suit. Will it make you drive any faster? Probably not, but you can finally tell that girl who won't sleep with you that some say you're a mythical racing entity that sets hot laps both on the track and in bed. She'll definitely appreciate it, we swear. Head on over to Ebay to catch your chance at winning this historical Top Gear memorabilia.

Or, you could just DNA test that sucker and find out, once and for all, who Das Stiggie really is.

[via Ebay]

We're expecting to see more of these kinds of wacky stories as Brits across the kingdom scour Streetview, which was just revealed for the island nation. Obviously the shot was taken before Ben Collins was discovered to be the white Stig, and the black Stig returned from the sea. Check out the view from the eye of big brother Street View below and zoom in for all the Stiggy goodness. (Thanks for the tips Oli and Witold)

View Larger Map[Top Gear Blog]

It's been said that The Stig is really Ben Collins, Barack Obama, Sir Tom McKillop and a slew of others.


Unfortunately The Stig was rather quiet, but we did pick this up from his incessant finger tapping:

(Hat Tip To Arman!)

[top gear via motorward]

We guess the question isn't "Who is the Stig?" No, it's more like "Who isn't The Stig?" In addition to Heikki Kovalainen, the 27-year-old Finnish Formula One McLaren driver who happens to also be Lewis Hamilton's partner, the UK's Daily Mail claims there are seven other drivers who've donned the white racing suit of The Stig on Top Gear.

The paper claims:

Forty-one-year-old former GT world championship racing driver Chris Goodwin, from London, has also starred as the Stig. As has fellow Londoner Julian Bailey, a 47-year-old former Formula One racing driver who raced for the Tyrell and Lotus teams.

Stunt driver Terry Grant from Bushey in Hertfordshire has also slipped into the white racing leathers to become the Stig. Mr Grant's website claims he is 'one of Europe's leading stunt drivers' and as such is 'the guy who really can drive circles around you'.

Stunt driver Russ Swift is another who has become the Stig. Mr Swift's website makes no mention of his alter-ego however it does tell how he has 'performed over 8000 displays in over 50 countries including America, South Africa, Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia and Australia.

Finally, Dan Lang, a Swedish snow mobile racing champion played the Stig in a Top Gear stunt where he jumped a snow mobile off a ski jump."

So is it true? Well, while readers here and at FinalGear would like to believe there's some kind of vast conspiracy, with this story being yet another part of a misinformation campaign on behalf of the producers of the show, the truth is, it's probably not. While it's very possible The Stig is a single driver, like Ben Collins, he probably isn't given the needs of the variety of different types of stunt driving on the show. I makes more sense to believe he/she/it's a legion of different drivers, each brought in under different needs — whether it's taking a snowmobile off a jump or drifting around the corners at a Spanish raceway.

Of course it could still be a conspiracy. The BBC would prefer you think that anyway — it makes the producers of the show look smarter than they actually are. (Hat tip to Antonio!)

[via DailyMail]

Photo Credit: BBC
Photoshop: Ray Wert

For starters, Ben Collins is James Bond's stunt double from the recent 007 thriller Quantum of Solace. As to how he was outed, well, It seems Collins revealed his secret identity to a Bristol art gallery owner in order to commission an artwork commemorating his exploits on Top Gear. In 2002, Perry McCarthy revealed he was the black Stig, prompting his firing from the series. It’s believed that Collins could now suffer a similar fate.

Collins’ non-secret driving credentials are beyond reproach: he’s raced in Formula 3, NASCAR and Le Mans, as well as providing stunt driving services for television and movie production. As we've already said, he was even Daniel Craig’s stunt double in Quantum of Solace.





Collins has been tipped as the Stig before. This video from 2007 compares The Stig’s voice to Collins’ and last year a builder discovered a white racing suit and helmet while working on Collins’ home.

The BBC has declined to comment saying, “We never comment on speculation as to who or what The Stig is.”

[via The Telegraph]

The highest-rated, most-watched automotive show on television is not immune to the impending doom that is the Carpocalypse. The BBC reported yesterday there will be budget cuts across the board in 2009 and Top Gear will feel that budget-cutting heat. We're being told the next season will be cheaper to produce and not only that, it’s likely viewers will notice.

According to Andy Wilman, the producer for Top Gear:

No point in moaning about that – all shows are suffering… so no reason why we shouldn’t suffer as well.

Our problem, though, is that there is no fat to trim off the show, in that we waste almost nothing behind the scenes and the old cliché of every penny goes on screen is actually true.

So in 2009 the budget cut has to affect what you watch.

Wilman also joked about Clarkson’s idea:

Instead of trimming back a little bit on every show - losing a helicopter here or a truck crash there - we'll endeavour to make 13 out of 14 shows as per the usual [Hollywood producer] Jerry Bruckheimer standard, and then the last one, when we only have a tenner left, will be utter, utter *****.

The Stig also spoke his mind about the cuts:

.—. .-.. . .- ... . / -.. —- -. .—--. - / —. . - / .-. .. -.. / —- ..-. / — . .-.-.- / .. .—--. — / .. -. / .-.. —- ...- . / .— .. - .... / - .... . / .... .- — ... - . .-. / .- -. -.. / .. / -.. .-. .. ...- . / ..-. .- ... - —..— / ...- .-. —- —- —- —- — .-.-.- / — .- -.- . / ... ..- .-. . / -.— —- ..- / -.. .-. .. -. -.- / -.— —- ..- .-. / —- ...- .- .-.. - .. -. . .-.-.-

We don’t mind Clarkson’s idea so much, but losing content from the show will really affect the impact Top Gear has on enthusiasts. Will this really affect the production quality of the show? Probably, but not as much as you’d think, though they may have to cut down on Clarkson’s banter every now and again. We hear he's now being paid by the word.

[via Telegraph.UK]

The identity of the original Stig was revealed to be former F1 driver Perry McCarthy when the black-suited Stig was "killed-off" of the show, tragically driving a Jaguar XJ-S off the flight deck of HMS Invincible. Since then, the identity of the current white-suited Stig has been a hot topic of speculation. Most agree The Stig is not merely one man; there are multiple men that have worn the the Stig mask. For instance, according to the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet, Swedish snowmobiler Dan Lang wore the white suit during the Winter Olympic Special's snowmobile on a ski-jump stunt. Even friend of the show, stunt driver Russ Swift, said in an interview that The Stig is not played by just one person. Maybe the real question is, do we want to know who The Stig is? Ignorance is bliss, right?
[AutoTrader UK via AutoBlog]