Who is the Stig?

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?

original autoblog article