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{{Infobox Celebrity
| name = The Stig
| image = The Stig British International Motor Show .jpg
| caption = The Stig at the 2006 British International Motor Show.
| birth_date = Unknown
| birthplace = Unknown
| occupation = Test driver and trainer for celebrity guests
}}
'''The Stig''' is the name given to the anonymous ] on the ] show '']''. In the show he is cast as a mysterious "tame<!--DO NOT CHANGE the word "TAME", it is CORRECT. Thank you.--> racing driver"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml|publisher=], ]|quote=Every performance road car that comes to the Top Gear test track eventually ends up in the hands of our tame racing driver.|accessdate=2008-08-08|title=Power Laps}}</ref> whose identity is unknown, and who never speaks or removes his helmet on camera. Nonetheless he is fully credited as a presenter, albeit as "The Stig", alongside ], ] and ].

The Stig's primary functions on the show are to ] in various cars around the ] in ], and to train each week's guest in setting a lap time in the ] feature on the show. In addition the Stig carries out other driving duties when the need arises.

The Stig has also appeared on some of Jeremy Clarkson's motoring specials, such as ''Heaven and Hell'' and ''Thriller''.

==Origins==
The Stig's name derives from presenter Jeremy Clarkson's days at ]; where, according to Clarkson, new students were always called "Stig".<ref>{{cite web |last=Rufford |first=Nicholas |coauthors=Smith, Emma |url=http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/article586470.ece?token=null&offset=0 |title=The backroom boy who put Top Gear on top of the world |work=] |publisher=] |date = 2005-11-06 |accessdate=2006-09-26 |quote=... and then we started to think about reviving Top Gear in a new format, with a track, special guests and the Stig — new boys at Repton were always called Stig...}}</ref> A proposed name for the Stig was originally "The ]" until protests from ] put a stop to the idea.<ref name=autotrader>{{cite web |last=Collantine |first=Keith |url=http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEATURES/32815.html |title=The original Stig speaks |work=] |publisher=] |date=2006-11-01 |accessdate=2006-11-01 |quote=McCarthy originally attended a screen-test to be a Top Gear presenter. But then the producers conjured up the idea of having an anonymous racing driver – which they wanted to call ''The Gimp''. "I just said 'no'," he laughs. "I didn’t want to be known as ''The Gimp''. Finally we settled on ''The Stig''"}}</ref> There have been two official Stigs on the show, while various other Stigs have made ]s for particular episodes.

===Black Stig===
]
The first Stig wore black overalls and helmet. It was introduced in the first episode of the current format by Jeremy Clarkson as the resident test driver, as the presenters could not consistently post fast times themselves. Clarkson noted that "we don't know its name, we really don't know its name, nobody knows its name, and we don't wanna know, cause it's a racing driver." Clarkson then described The Stig as having a very small brain, who had worthless opinions, and a disorder described by Clarkson as "] Syndrome". Its job description was to "just go out there and drive fast".<ref name=TopGear1.1>''Top Gear'' Series 1, Episode 1 (])</ref>

Black Stig posted a lap time of 1:46 for the ] segment. This Stig was used for the first two series of the show. It was then "killed off" at the start of the third series when he was shown driving a modified ] off the flight deck of ] during a stunt and landing in the sea.<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 3, Episode 1 (])</ref><ref>BBCWorldwide, YouTube. Accessed (])</ref>

===White Stig===
After the Black Stig was "killed off", a new "White Stig" was introduced, wearing white overalls and helmet.<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 3, Episode 2 (])</ref> White Stig has been featured in the show beyond just the Power Lap segment. His work has included driving cars in other segments of the show,<ref>See for example ''Top Gear'' Series 7, Episode 1 Isle of Man Test</ref> and racing against the hosts <ref>See for example ''Top Gear'' Series 8, Episode 7 (]) The Hosts building a Caterham Kitcar vs. The Stig driving one from Caterham HQ</ref> and recruited to undertake tests.<ref>See for example ''Top Gear'' Series 10, Episode 5 (]) Crossing London/Public Transport Challenge</ref> White Stig has also appeared outside ''Top Gear'' in some of Clarkson's motoring specials, such as 2005's ''Heaven and Hell'', 2006's ''The Good, The Bad, The Ugly'', 2007's ''Supercar Showdown'', and 2008's ''Thriller''.

The Stig also collected Top Gear's third award for ''Best factual programme'' at the 2008 British ]. The Stig did not speak, but supplied an acceptance letter from the rest of the crew, read out by ].<ref name=bbc-ntv-2008 >{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/7698712.stm|title=In pictures: National TV Awards|publisher=BBC News|date=2008-10-29|accessdate=2008-11-03|quote=Comedian Griff Rhys Jones presented Top Gear's racing driver The Stig with the award for best factual programme.}}</ref>

White Stig posted the fastest lap time of 1:44.4 around the ''Top Gear'' test track for the ] segment.

===Other Stigs===

There have been various cameo appearances by other Stigs on Top Gear.

Series 9 Episode 3 was set in the United States, with the presenters purchasing American cars and driving them across four states whilst on holiday. One of the challenges set for the presenters was for the cars to set a lap time around a racetrack, for which "'''the Stig's American cousin'''" was introduced. This Stig was nicknamed "'''Big Stig'''" by the presenters due to his obese appearance<ref>''Top Gear'' (])</ref> and was noted by Clarkson to have a "very relaxed driving style".<ref>BBC Channel, YouTube. (]) - Immediately after 6:25, '''Clarkson:''' ''The Cadillac certainly seemed to suit Big Stig's relaxed driving style.''</ref>

Series 10 Episode 4 featured the presenters driving across ]. To test the performance of the three cars used by the presenters around a dirt rally track, Clarkson introduced "'''The Stig's African cousin'''". This incarnation of The Stig was black, wore only ''Puma'' shoes, a loincloth and the iconic white helmet. He set lap times for two of the cars, but walked away from the track when Clarkson's ] failed to start. The others joked that African Stig was "in a hurry", and decided "not to take your car".<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 10 Episode 4 (4 November 2007])</ref>

Series 12 Episode 1 featured Stig's lorry driving cousin ("'''Rig Stig'''," as identified via Jeremy's narration), who was set as a stereotypical lorry driver, with the right hand sleeve of his jump suit tanned brown and an obese appearance. He demonstrated to Clarkson, May and Hammond that it was possible to powerslide a ] cab.<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 12 Episode 1 (2 November 2008)</ref>.

The Vietnam special featured the 'Stig's Communist cousin' a red-jumpsuit clad motorcylist, who set lap times on the presenters' bikes. Previously seen in the series 12 preview montage, the scenes were deleted from the broadcast, but the footage of the 'Communist cousin' was included in the extra materials of the DVD.

===International Stigs===

'']'s'' version of The Stig is similarly attired to the UK White Stig, and his identity is likewise kept a secret. Marketing in the lead up to the series had stated he was The Stig's "Australian cousin",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/bbcworldwide/worldwidestories/pressreleases/2008/05_may/top_gear_australia.shtml|title=Australian Top Gear presenters revealed|publisher=BBC Worldwide Press Releases|date=2008-05-28|accessdate=2008-09-01}}</ref> but in the first episode he was introduced as just "The Stig". In the first episode of the second season, co-host ] clarified that he is an Australian Stig and is not intended to be the same Stig from the UK series.<ref>''Top Gear Australia'' Series 2, Episode 1 (])</ref> Earlier, Pizzati had suggested that The Stig have an "Australian" name, such as "Stiggo", but the other presenters refused.<ref>''Top Gear Australia'' Series 1, Episode 1 (])</ref>

'']'' also features their own version of The Stig, nicknamed "Stigushka" by the hosts.<ref>{{cite web |title=In the Spotlight: This week, Ren-TV unveiled the Russian version of the British show about cars, "Top Gear." |publisher=] |date=2007-2-27 |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/arts/2009/02/27/374874.htm |accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref>

==Records==
The Stig's fastest official lap time around the ''Top Gear'' test track was 1 minute 17.1 seconds in a ].<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 10, Episode 9 (])</ref> Faster times had previously been posted in a ] car (0.59.0),<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 5, Episode 8 (])</ref> an ] (1.08.6)<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 6, Episode 6 (])</ref> and a ] (1:10.6),<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 10, Episode 5 (])</ref> but the times of these cars were not included on the Lap Board because they were either not deemed street-practical due to their inability to navigate UK regulation speed bumps, or because they could not be purchased by the public.

==Identity==
<!-- Before adding in any information, hit your browsers back button and re-read the Identity section just in case the info has already been added into the article. -->

The Stig's true identity is never revealed on the show, and in order to maintain the secrecy, all shots show him wearing full racing ]s and matching ] Diamondback ].<ref name=FlatOut>
{{cite book
| last = McCarthy
| first = Perry
| authorlink = Perry McCarthy
| coauthors =
| title = ]
| publisher = ]
| year = 2002
| isbn = 1-85960-886-8
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.thrashed-racing.co.uk/Helmets&Visors.html
| title = Karting gear - helmets and visors
| work = Thrashed Racing
| date = 2007-11-26
| accessdate = 2008-04-06
}}
</ref> All that can be seen from the gap between his helmet and jumpsuit is that he is a white male with dark hair. It is also known that he wears Size 10 racing boots as discovered by the ]<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,22750-2270385_3,00.html
| title = Bad boys are back in town
| work = ]
| publisher = ]
| date = 2006-06-16
| accessdate = 2006-09-26
}}
</ref> and a well-timed camera flash managed to show The Stig's eyes by ].<ref name=autotrader2>
{{cite web
| last = Milne
| first = Stuart
| url = http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/car_page_content/top_gears_the_stig_unmasked_at_last.html
| title = Top Gear's The Stig - unmasked at last?
| work = ]
| publisher = ]
| date = 2008-02-22
| accessdate = 2008-02-22
| quote = This is the first glimpse of the man behind The Stig's trademark white crash helmet... This sensational photograph was taken in London yesterday and gives a clear view of his eyes through his crash helmet's black visor, but has left experts mystified as to his true identity.
}}</ref> Although The Stig does talk with celebrities while preparing them for their "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" lap times, he is almost never shown talking on screen, and in both the programme and ] articles he is portrayed as unable or unwilling to talk.<ref name=TopGearMagazine102008>Porter, Richard '''Some say...if The Stig didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him, just one of the many paradoxes involving the mystery man.''' Top Gear Magazine October 2008 pg. 137</ref><ref name=TopGearBrainStig>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmdnudxCd5s
| title = Brain Stig - TopGear.com viral - BBC Top Gear
| publisher = ]
| date = January 12, 2009
| accessdate = 27 Jan 2009
}}</ref> Clarkson has written that The Stig is not permitted to talk on screen because "any opinion he might voice on cars would be rubbish",<ref name=TopGear1.1/><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article2503695.ece
| title = Volvo XC70 SE Sport
| work = ]
| publisher = ]
| date = 2007-09-23
| accessdate = 2007-12-26
}}</ref> though he has been caught speaking on camera.<ref>
finalgear.com Posted ] at 13:17 GMT</ref>

The identity of Black Stig was revealed to be ] when his book '']'' was published in 2002. McCarthy is a former ] driver and test driver for the ], ] and ] teams, and also tested for ].<ref name=FlatOut/><ref name=autotrader/>

The identity of White Stig has not been officially revealed and is regarded as a carefully guarded secret by the ].<ref name=DailyMail8>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1127714/EXCLUSIVE-The-drivers-Top-Gear-stunt-driver-The-Stigs-famous-racing-whites.html
| title = EXCLUSIVE: The eight drivers behind Top Gear stunt driver The Stig's famous racing whites
| work = Richard Irvine
| publisher = ]
| date = 12:57 PM on 27th January 2009
| accessdate = 27 Jan 2009
}}</ref><ref name=TelegraphClaim>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/4217153/Top-Gears-The-Stig-revealed-as-married-man-who-drives-boring-car.html
| title = Top Gear's The Stig revealed as married man 'who drives boring car'
| work = ]
| publisher = Daily Telegraph
| date = 6:11PM GMT 11 Jan 2009
| accessdate = 11 Jan 2009
}}</ref> Racing drivers ranging from ],<ref name=DailyMail8/><ref>
{{cite news
| last = Lorraine
| first = Veronica
| title = 'The Stig' is unmasked
| work = ]
| publisher = Northern and Shell Media
| date = 2006-01-16
| quote = We can reveal he is none other than former Formula 1 and British touring car championship driver Julian Bailey.}}</ref> ],<ref name=DailyMail8/><ref name="WDP">
{{cite news
| last = Dave
| first = Clensy
| title = Life in the fast lane
| work = ]
| publisher =
| page=4
| date = 2008-03-01
| quote = So, is he The Stig? "No," Ben laughs, as we order a coffee in the bar of the Avon Gorge Hotel, "those rumours are absolute nonsense". That said, YouTube is flooded with films showing an unbroadcast scene where The Stig speaks - sounding uncannily like Ben.}}</ref><ref name=AutotraderSwiffCollins>
{{cite news
|url=http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/CARS/FEATURES/TRACKSIDE/33573.html
|title=Trackside - Who is the Stig?
|last=Collantine
|first=Kieth
|date=22 January 2007
|work=Auto Trader
|accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref><ref name=TelegraphClaim2>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/4286448/Who-is-the-Stig-The-answer.html
| title = Who is the Stig? The answer
| publisher = Daily Telegraph
| date = 12:44PM GMT 19 Jan 2009
| accessdate = 19 Jan 2009
}}</ref><ref name="times-open-secret">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article5548705.ece|title=Identity of Top Gear's The Stig revealed as Ben Collins|first=Patrick|last=Foster|date=2009-01-19|accessdate=2009-01-19|publisher=The Times}}</ref> ],<ref name=DailyMail8/> ],<ref name=RussSwiftInterview>
{{cite web
| last = Collantine
| first = Keith
| title = Stunt driver Russ Swift
| work = ]
| date = 2007-01-17
| url = http://www.autotrader.co.uk/EDITORIAL/car_page_content/33557.html
| accessdate = 2007-07-18
| quote = 'Are you the Stig from Top Gear?' "(Pause) No comment. What we... (laughs) what Top Gear like about the Stig is the fact that nobody knows who it is. A lot of people think it's Damon Hill. It is not one person."
}}</ref><ref name=TopGearHillSIARPC>
{{cite web
| title = Top Gear Videos, Celeb Laps: Damon Hill
| work = Topgear.com
| url = http://www.topgear.com/content/timetoburn/sections/videos/07/broadband.html
| accessdate = 2006-10-08
}}
</ref> ],<ref name=DailyMail8/> ],<ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.tvl.be/nl/nieuws/2008-05-22/top-gear-in-zolder/
| title = TVL - Top Gear in Zolder
| work = TV Limburg
| date = 2009-05-22
| accessdate = 2008-05-26
| language = ]
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/the-stig-revealed-in-belgium/
| title = UPDATE: The Stig NOT revealed... in Belgium?
| work = Autoblog
| date = 2008-05-22
| accessdate = 2008-05-26
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.finalgear.com/news/2008/05/23/no-tim-schrick-is-not-one-of-the-stigs/
| title = No, Tim Schrick Is Not One Of The Stigs
| work = finalgear.com
| date = 2008-05-23
| accessdate = 2008-05-26
}}</ref> and ],<ref name=DailyMail8/><ref name=AutotraderSwiffCollins/><ref name=RussSwiftInterview/> have been speculated as being The Stig at one point or another by the press, other racing drivers, and fans of the show.

Perry McCarthy,<ref name=autotrader/> Russ Swift,<ref name=RussSwiftInterview/> and an unnamed former Stig<ref name=DailyMail8/> have claimed that there is more than one driver who plays the role of The Stig. James May claims that there is a clause in the Stig's contract that should his identity be exposed either through his own willingness or via a member of the ''Top Gear'' staff (including the hosts of ''Top Gear''), he has to be fired. Black Stig was let go via this clause; the same clause would apply also to White Stig under the same circumstances.<ref>
{{cite episode
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00f87nh/Simon_Mayo_03112008/
| title = BBC Radio 5 Live: Simon Mayo
| airdate = 2008-11-03
}}(Start time: around the 2 Hour Mark)</ref>

Specialist drivers and stuntmen have also been hinted at playing the role of The Stig; Stuntmen Terry Grant and Russ Swift have been hinted as donning The Stig's trademark racing suit.<ref name=DailyMail8/> The ] episode of ''Top Gear'' showed The Stig doing a ] using a ]; the driver performing the ski jump stunt was claimed to be Dan Lang, a Swedish snowmobile cross driver.<ref name=DailyMail8/><ref>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,788722,00.html
| title = Han hoppar med skoter
| language = ]
| work = ]
| publisher = ]/]
| date = 2006-03-07
| accessdate = 2007-09-26
| quote = {{lang|sv|Dan Lang flög ut från OS-backen i 134 km/h. I 134 kilometer i timmen hoppade Dan Lang, 24, ut från 90-meterbacken i Lillehammer. På skoter.}}
}}</ref> "Rig Stig" seen in Series 12 Episode 1 drove British ] champion Stuart Oliver's truck on the show, indicating a truck racing driver was used in the segment .<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teamoliver.co.uk/topgear.asp |title=BBC Top Gear The Rig Stig |publisher=Teamoliver.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2009-05-01}}</ref>

Some people have criticized the apparent fascination of trying to identify who is really The Stig, comparing it to claiming there is no ].<ref name=DailyMail8/>
'']'' criticized the outing of Ben Collins by the Daily Telegraph in an article that the "identity of the white-suited Stig ... has been an ] within the motoring world for some years, with newspapers refraining from publishing his name, to uphold the spirit of the programme." which concluded that "a newspaper broke with the convention to out Mr Collins, 33, after following up a story in a Bristol newspaper".<ref name="times-open-secret"/>

The BBC has varied their responses to The Stig's true identity. One official BBC response to such speculation is "We never comment on speculation as to whom or what the Stig is."<ref name=DailyMail8/> In "response" to the outing of Ben Collins as The Stig, the BBC revealed The Stig's true identity as deceased racing driver ],<ref name=TopgearResponse1>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.topgear.com/us/blog/more/the-stig-is-revealed/
| title = The Stig is Revealed
| publisher = ]
| date = January 21, 2009|9:57 am
| accessdate = 21 Jan 2009
}}</ref> then as troubled ] boss ],<ref name=TopgearResponse2>
{{cite web
| url = http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2009/01/21/stig-unmasked-again/
| title = Stig unmasked again
| publisher = ]
| date = January 21, 2009
| accessdate = 21 Jan 2009
}}</ref> and ].<ref name=TopgearResponse3>
{{cite web
| url = http://transmission.blogs.topgear.com/2009/01/21/thats-mr-president-stig-to-you-sir/
| title = That's Mr President Stig to you, sir
| publisher = ]
| date = January 21, 2009
| accessdate = 21 Jan 2009
}}</ref> In the revamp of the Top Gear website, one staffer alluded to the identity of Stig as himself, while The Stig walked behind him debunking the theory.<ref name=TopGearNeverSeen>
{{cite web
| url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfcERpMdsXk
| title = Never Seen - TopGear.com viral - BBC Top Gear video
| publisher = ]
| date = January 14, 2009
| accessdate = 27 Jan 2009
}}</ref>

] with an "I AM THE STIG" T-shirt presented to him by Jeremy.]]
The show has alluded to The Stig with ] drivers that visit the show. ] appeared as the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" and when asked directly by Clarkson if he was The Stig, Hill played on the fact that he may be The Stig, but then denied it.<ref name=TopGearHillSIARPC/> ]'s appearance on the show was marked at the conclusion of his lap with Clarkson presenting him with an "I AM THE STIG" T-shirt.<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 6, Episode 10 (])</ref>

When former F1 driver ] appeared on the show, Jeremy Clarkson noted that The Stig theorised that the ] (the show's "reasonably priced car" at the time) could achieve a 1:44 time on the track.<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 7, Episode 5 (]) Clarkson: ''The Stig has always told us, that track would give us a 1:44 in that car, and I thought...''</ref> Mansell proved the Stig's theory by lapping in a time of 1:44.6; The Stig subsequently posted a lap-time of 1:44.4 in the Liana. During the review of ]'s lap, Clarkson commented that he, as did most of the other F1 drivers, took very different racing lines from The Stig's. Button commented that "...obviously, The Stig isn't a Formula One Driver, then", to which Clarkson replied, "might be."<ref>''Top Gear'' Series 8, Episode 8 (]) Clarkson: ''You do that line as well! Formula One drivers all do that and The Stig doesn't!'' Button: ''Oh really?'' Clarkson: ''No.'' Button: ''Well obviously, The Stig isn't a Formula One Driver, then.'' Clarkson: ''Might be.''</ref>

==Listening habits==
Another source of entertainment for the presenters is the music The Stig listens to whilst doing Power Laps around the Top Gear track. Often a specific genre will be chosen for one or more series. These have included ]s, ]s, ], ], ], ], ], ], ], salesman techniques, the hits of ], the speeches of ], ] tapes, and ].

==Introductions==
{{wikiquote|Top Gear#The_Stig|The Stig}}
Starting in the sixth season, the hosts of the show will often introduce footage of The Stig by offering humorous speculations as to his identity, such as "Some say that the outline of his left nipple is exactly the same shape as the ]. And if you give him a really important job, he'll skive off and play croquet. All we know is...he's called The Stig.".<ref>Top Gear - Series 8, Episode 5 - 2006.06.04 (7:00 in, Clarkson introduces The Stig in review of the ]) (BBCWorldwide YouTube link: (February 20, 2008)).</ref> The introductions often include references to topical news stories. Prior to this change, The Stig's name would be used in formal introductions, such as "His Holiness, The Stig!".<ref> BBCWorldwide on Youtube (April 05, 2007)"</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Top Gear}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Stig, The}}
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Revision as of 15:56, 9 June 2009