The identity of Top Gear’s tame racing driver is claimed to be F1 great Michael Schumacher, at least if you believe the first episode of Series 13 that aired in the UK over the weekend.

Speculation over the identity of the “White Stig” has been ongoing since the original “Black Stig” outed himself at the end of the second series. The UK media reported in January that The Stig was Ben Collins.

Given that the show, and particularly Jeremy Clarkson have previously stated that they would never reveal the identity of The Stig, the revelation of his identity is circumspect at best. That it could be Michael Schumacher isn’t impossible given he retired from F1 in 2006, but that would also mean that there has been two white stigs as well, because it would have been impossible for Schumacher to have played the role while he was still professionally racing.

Here’s The Stig revealed video:

Top Gear claims The Stig is Michael Schumacher (video) is a post from: The Inquisitr

Who is the Stig is a question fans of Top Gear have long asked, and now a British paper is claiming to know the Stig’s true identity…but won’t share.

News of The World claims that the Stig is a man, in his 30s who gained his driving experience in Formula First, GT Racing and Stock Cars. Off the Top Gear test-track, he drives a £15,000 “reasonably priced” car, is happily married and lives in a £300,000 home. The paper claims the source is a BBC executive, but will say no more other than he earns £150,000 a year combining his Top Gear job with some stunt and test driving.

The identity of the Stig has long been rumored, but if what the News of the World says is right, the obvious candidate for the answer to the question who is the Stig is Ben Collins.

There’s a couple of things pointing towards Collins: he’s in his 30′s (born 1975) and has raced in Formula First, GT Racing and Stock Cars: that’s a fairly unique combination, and none of the other rumored Stig candidates match it. And he’s also a stunt driver, who worked with Daniel Craig on the last James Bond movie.

There’s also the known connection between the show and Collins. Following Richard Hammond’s crash in September 2006, the Health & Safety Executive report into the event recorded that Collins had “worked closely with Top Gear as a high performance driver and consultant” and had prepared a briefing for Richard Hammond preceding the event.

Collin’s has appeared on the show as himself three times, but never up against the Stig; his most recent appearance was as a driver in the Toyota Aygo football game at the beginning of Series 6.

Obviously the only way we can be 100% sure is with an admission from the BBC or show, but you’d have to think if the News of the World report is accurate, Ben Collins is the Stig.

Ben Collins Is the Stig is a post from: The Inquisitr