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The Stig
The Stig is the name given to the anonymous racing driver on the BBC show Top Gear. In the show he is cast as a mysterious "tame racing driver"<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</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 Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.
The Stig's primary functions on the show are to post lap times in various cars around the Top Gear Test Track in Dunsfold Park, and to train each week's guest in setting a lap time in the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car 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 The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Origins
The Stig's name derives from presenter Jeremy Clarkson's days at Repton School; where, according to Clarkson, new students were always called "Stig".<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> A proposed name for the Stig was originally "The Gimp" until protests from Perry McCarthy put a stop to the idea.<ref name=autotrader>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> There have been two official Stigs on the show, while various other Stigs have made cameo appearances 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 "Mansell Syndrome". Its job description was to "just go out there and drive fast".<ref name=TopGear1.1>Top Gear Series 1, Episode 1 (2002-10-20)</ref>
Black Stig posted a lap time of 1:46 for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car 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 Jaguar XJ-S off the flight deck of HMS Invincible during a stunt and landing in the sea.<ref>Top Gear Series 3, Episode 1 (2003-10-26)</ref><ref>BBCWorldwide, YouTube. Top Gear - The Stig - HMS Invincible - BBC Accessed (2008-11-26)</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 (2003-11-02)</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, for example finding a winner between the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, BMW M6 and Porsche 911 Carrera S on the Isle of Man,<ref>Top Gear Series 7, Episode 1</ref> and racing against the hosts in a bid to see who would cross the starting line at a race track; White Stig driving a Caterham Seven kit car from Caterham, Surrey to Knockhill racetrack in Scotland against the hosts in assembling an identical car from the ground up.<ref>Top Gear Series 8, Episode 7 (2006-07-23)</ref> In Series 10 The Stig was recruited to take public transport in the Cross London Challenge and had to deal with such tasks as riding a bus, using an Oyster Card and having to answer a mobile phone (but instead just stared at the ringing device).<ref>Top Gear Series 10, Episode 5 (2007-11-11)</ref>
White Stig has also appeared outside Top Gear in some of Clarkson's motoring specials, such as The Good, The Bad, The Ugly where Clarkson reviewed and compared American and non-American cars, Heaven and Hell, where the Stig was used to compare the track times of the Chevrolet Corvette C6 and the TVR Sagaris, and raced Clarkson, in a BMW M5, with a Ferrari F430. In Clarkson's recent DVD, Supercar Showdown, The Stig (in a Porsche 911) raced Sabine Schmitz (in an Audi R8) around the Ascari track in Spain to see which was the fastest, and in the latest Clarkson production, Thriller, the Stig can be seen chasing sheep<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> for recreation. The Stig also collected Top Gear's third award for Best factual programme at the 2008 British National Television Awards. The Stig did not speak, but supplied an acceptance letter from the rest of the crew, read out by Griff Rhys Jones.<ref name="bbc-ntv-2008">Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>
White Stig posted the fastest lap time of 1:44.4 around the Top Gear test track for the Star in a Reasonably-Priced Car 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 Series 9, Episode 3 (2007-02-11)</ref> and was noted by Clarkson to have a very relaxed driving style.<ref>BBC Channel, YouTube. Top Gear Series 9, Episode 3 (2007-02-11) - 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 Botswana. 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 Lancia Beta failed to start. The others joked that African Stig was trying to get a respectable time by walking the course, and didn't bother using the car as it was too slow.<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 by Jeremy from a card), 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 lorry cab.<ref>Top Gear Series 12 Episode 1 (2 November 2008)</ref>
Other Versions
Top Gear Australia's version of The Stig is similarly attired to the U.K. White Stig, and his identity is likewise kept a secret. Co-host Steve Pizzati has suggested that The Stig have an "Australian" name, such as "Stiggo", but the other presenters refused.<ref>Top Gear Australia Series 1, Episode 1 (2008-07-29)</ref> Marketing in the lead up to the series had suggested him to possibly be The Stig's "Australian cousin"<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> but in the first episode he was introduced as The Stig.
Records
The Stig's fastest official lap time around the Top Gear test track was 1 minute 17.1 seconds in a Gumpert Apollo.<ref>Top Gear Series 10, Episode 9 (2007-12-09)</ref> Faster times had previously been posted in a Renault F1 car (0.59.0),<ref>Top Gear Series 5, Episode 8 (2004-12-19)</ref> an Aston Martin DBR9 (1.08.6)<ref>Top Gear Series 6, Episode 6 (2005-07-03)</ref> and a Caparo T1 (1:10.6).<ref>Top Gear Series 10, Episode 5 (2007-11-11)</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
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 overalls and matching Simpson Diamondback helmet. <ref name=FlatOut> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}} </ref><ref> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}} </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 Sunday Times<ref> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}} </ref> and a well-timed camera flash managed to show The Stig's eyes by Auto Trader.<ref name=autotrader2> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>
The identity of Black Stig was revealed to be Perry McCarthy when his book Flat Out, Flat Broke was published in 2003. McCarthy is a former Formula 1 driver and test driver for the Benetton, Arrows and Williams teams, and also tested for BMW F1.<ref name=autotrader/><ref name=FlatOut/>
The identity of White Stig has not been officially revealed. In a Winter Olympics special episode of Top Gear, The Stig was shown doing a ski jump using a snowmobile. According to the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet, the driver performing the ski jump stunt was Dan Lang, a Swedish snowmobile cross driver.<ref> {{#if: Han hoppar med skoter
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In January 2006, a Daily Express article reported that Julian Bailey was The Stig.<ref> {{#if: 'The Stig' is unmasked
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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 Top Gear magazine articles he is portrayed as unable or unwilling to talk. 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> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> However, the Stig has talked in an interview with a Dutch TV Channel, Veronica where he had a distinctly English accent.<ref> The Stig Speaks? finalgear.com Posted 2007-03-12 at 13:17 GMT</ref> Both Darren Turner and Ben Collins have been linked to the role, with The Scotsman quoting Susie Stoddart as stating "OK, there are two Stigs. One is Ben Collins and the other is Darren Turner. How do I know? I'm a racing driver, nothing stays a secret for long in motorsport."<ref> {{#if: Some say he's Top Gear's true star. We only know he's The Stig
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Collins has also been the subject of online speculation, although he has denied this, stating "those rumours are absolute nonsense" in the Western Daily Press newspaper.<ref name="WDP"> {{#if: Life in the fast lane
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}}|Template error: argument title is required.}}</ref> Collins was also referred to in the Health and Safety Executive report into the accident of Richard Hammond, named as a person "who worked closely with Top Gear as a high performance driver and consultant". However the report did not go so far as to name him as the Stig.<ref>Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref><ref name="WDP" /> In January of 2007 Auto Trader also commented on the possibility that Collins is The Stig, noting online speculation after "his appearance on Top Gear as part of a parachuting stunt", but also commenting that "(a)t 1.87m in height (over six feet) he could be too tall for the Stig’s racing suit." They quoted William Hill as offering odds of 8/1 against Collins being The Stig, with Russ Swift the 2/1 favourite.<ref>
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Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}} </ref> though further evidence has refuted that claim, including Tim Schrick racing the Stig as part of the Germany vs England feature in Episode 6 of Series 11.<ref> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}} </ref><ref> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref>
Both Russ Swift<ref> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}}</ref> and Perry McCarthy<ref name=autotrader/> 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> Template:Cite episode(Start time: around the 2 Hour Mark)</ref>
The show has alluded to The Stig with Formula 1 drivers that visit the show. In the 26 June 2005 episode, Damon Hill appeared as the "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car". 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> Template:Citation/core{{#if:|}} </ref> Mark Webber was interviewed on 31 July 2005 and at the conclusion of his lap, Clarkson presented him with an "I AM THE STIG" T-shirt.
When former F1 driver Nigel Mansell appeared on the show, Jeremy Clarkson noted that The Stig theorised that the Suzuki Liana (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 (2005-12-11) 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 Jenson Button'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 (2006-07-30) 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 power ballads, one-hit wonders, easy listening, country and western, prog rock, baroque, advertising jingles, foreign language tapes, romantic novels, salesman techniques, the hits of Elton John, the speeches of Margaret Thatcher, self-help tapes, and Morse Code.
Introductions
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 his voice can only be heard by cats, and that he is banned from the city of Chichester. All we know is... he's called The Stig." 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>Top Gear, Series 2, Episode 1, offset 43:12, Hammond introduces "His holiness, the Stig."</ref>.
