Alter egos 20: The Stig

The Stig has been something of a legend on Top Gear since his first appearance in 2002. Over the years three different drivers have regularly donned the full face helmet and racing suit to blast powerful cars round the Top Gear test track at Dunsfold aerodrome in Surrey, and another half dozen or so have made guest appearances in tackling more unusual driving challenges.

Former Formula One driver Parry McCarthy was revealed by a newspaper as the Black Stig, so named because of the colour of his driving gear, after just 18 months to so in the role. White Stig followed him, and for seven years the identity of stunt driver Ben Collins remained a secret, only revealed during a court battle to do with an autobiography called “The Man in the White Suit.” A second White Stig took over the role in 2010.

Two horses have run under the name of The Stig. The first of them was American bred and raced at Turfway Park, winning once, and finishing in the places three times. The second Stig is French bred, and trained in Newmarket by Nick Littmoden. He made all to win at Fakenham a couple of runs ago, but had no such luck a few minutes ago at Plumpton. Frankly, despite taking all the corners on the inside, he looked more like a contender in Stig’s other role, training celebrities for the “Star in a Reasonably Priced Car.”