The Stig revealed?

[Pete McCluskey.]

Is Michael really the Stig? I doubt it, I just think he didn't want anyone else driving his Ferrari..

Unmasked: But is Top Gear's Stig REALLY F1 ace Michael Schumacher? | Mail Online

 

[David Morton]

It was Heiki Kovaleinen when the 'stig' drove the Renault F1 and McArthy (Perry?) did the job for a while before that - apparently until he talked about doing it. The helmet being worn on last nights program seemed much larger than used by previous stigs.

 

[roaldin]

...The helmet being worn on last nights program seemed much larger than used by previous stigs...

Hahahahaha :laugh:

Tim.

 

[David Morton]

You're the only one awake Tim..........

 

[Simon]

He was there to drive the ferarri FFFXXXXXXXX or whatever it's called. If ferarri are so precious with these cars, it's a pretty sure bet the "normal" stig was not the one driving it!
Great show though, the whole train, car, bike race was brilliant.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

You're the only one awake Tim..........

Hahahah I got it too Dave, there is a time zone difference..Quite correct I was asleep.

Hang on Tim lives in Oz??? I was in bed early????

 

[roaldin]

That Ferrari was something else!
Not the best looking car in the world but it sounded great and man it looks quick - braking looked incredible!

You have it to hand it to the BBC for their camera work/direction etc on that show, just fantastic!

Tim. Sleep is like F1 to me - a thing of the past.

 

[SouthernGT40]

So someone has finally beaten the Ultima record round the Top Gear Track of 1min12.8secs.

 

[Jac Mac]

You're the only one awake Tim..........

Count me in, but I seem to have got quite used to some of the double/triple/quadruple messages within some of your posts David! .

 

[Anthony]

I thought they had the speed bump rule, only allowed on the leader board if the car was speed bump friendly, the front looked too low to me to be allowed but then it is only a tv show.

My wife saw something on Facebook about the identity before i got to watch the recorded show. Suit and skidlid definitely not right.

Does the real Stig have more personality?

we all know its Ben Collins anyway......

 

[Randy V]

BLAST!!! I MISSED IT!!!!!

The show that is... My Cable provider (for some reason) dropped BBCA for a day and then brought it back but all programming on my DVR was erased!

 

[Mike Pass]

So it takes a zillion £ FXX and "Mr personality Schumacher "to just beat an Ultima which anyone can build. Pity Clarkson didn't remind him a bit more of his many "sporting" antics. Bring back the real Stig and get him in the Ultima which is real world and which they still refuse to test on the program. Probably because the manufacturers of overpriced exotica would get shirty and not lend them any more cars when they got shown up.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Jack]

EXACTLY Mike!

 

[roaldin]

So someone has finally beaten the Ultima record round the Top Gear Track of 1min12.8secs.

Caparo T1 did 1.10.6 didn't it?
At least two "road" cars have done tens now so 1.12.8 seems slow by comparison doesn't it?

If 2 seconds faster is "just" beaten then I must be soft. I'd have said it was pretty convincing before I read that comment...

I'd like to see the Ultima tested properly as well BTW but there are lot's of things I'd like to see tested. I know of some damn fast highly modified "street" cars that I'm sure would do well (The white Mines R34 GT-R for one) but it would get away from the point of the show a bit.
It's not a "car show", it can't be, my family enjoy it and they hate car shows.

Tim.

 

[Jonesy]

It's not a "car show", it can't be, my family enjoy it and they hate car shows.
Tim.

So technically the Australian Top Gear is a car show because i know allot of people whom hate it with a passion ;-) Then again maybe thats just me

 

[roaldin]

So technically the Australian Top Gear is a car show...

Not even... I go to the trouble of getting the UK Top Gear (and 5th gear for that matter) from the UK, I don't go to the trouble of finding the remote for the above mentioned version.
I haven't watched it since early in the first series though so perhaps it might be ok now, I don't know. I really hope it has improved.
For fear of reprisal (in this day and age it doesn't take much for someone to slam you as unpatriotic, or worse) I shall refrain from further comment.

There have been worse shows though. I won't name them, I'll just say that if I want a bl***y adverbl***ytorial I'll watch the bl***y shopping bl***y network Glen!

Was anybody else watching a few years ago when a certain Australian show introduced an anonymous driver called "The Chip"...? Seriously...
The Stig was one of the best ideas in television, but you can't just rip it off and expect it to work.

If there were ever an election to find a new Stig I'd vote for Tiff. Small things...

Tim.

 

[Pete McCluskey.]

Tim +1 the Australian version is crap. And no it has not improved, I'm amazed that it is still going to air.
But then Big Brother rates its arse off, so what do I know?

 

[Huw Peplow]

wasnt that ferrari on slicks therefore not road legal unlike the ultima,Also it would probably fail its IVA test so really cant be compared with the ultimaor any other car in the list. Ted marlow is probably curently in his shed uping his bhp from its humble 720 bhp,go on ted!!

 

[Keith]

wasnt that ferrari on slicks therefore not road legal unlike the ultima,Also it would probably fail its IVA test so really cant be compared with the ultimaor any other car in the list. Ted marlow is probably curently in his shed uping his bhp from its humble 720 bhp,go on ted!!

Definitely not road legal, so the Ultima still has it....:thumbsup:

Quote Pistonheads: "Unfortunately the Caparo was disqualified because, in its track set-up, it lacked the adjustable ride height to enable it to clear a requisite speed-bump. Caparo insists they deserve a second chance with a road-spec version. If the show's producers give the Ultima GTR an official run, meanwhile, the Caparo's reign as king of the Power Lap could be short-lived, adjustable shocks or not."

 

[Price Walton]

(puffs chest and prepares trumpet for blowing)

In a past life I had cause to know the identity of "Stig".

A rather heated discussion was held with the producer, which ended when I put my foot down and pointed out that I was legally required to document the actual identity of everybody involved, including the person wearing the white safety equipment.

After all sorts of assurances about respecting privacy I was told, "today it's..........."


There is a popular theory that "Stig" is several people. One principal, with others brought in on an as-needs basis. My experience leads me to agree with this concept.

As mentioned by roaldin, one of the best ideas ever.

The best part of the Australian show was the appearance of "Stig" at the logies (think Emmys or BAFTAs) when "Stig" arrived on the red carpet and marched strode inside, ignoring the assorted journos and knobs by going straight up the middle and never breaking stride.