Posted on 09/01/2010 9:43:09 PM PDT by Stoat
EXCLUSIVE
Stig was SAS Hero
Ben trained SAS heroes in daring "escape and evade" driving skills while serving with the regiment, The Sun can reveal. RACING driver Ben Collins, unmasked yesterday as Top Gear mystery man The Stig, is a former member of the SAS.
No more mystery nice guy ... Ben Collins aka The Stig
Millions of viewers have seen the race ace coaching celebrities on how to achieve the fastest time around a TV circuit in Top Gear's reasonably-priced car. But sources close to the special forces unit - motto Who Dares Wins - last night told how he also passed on his expertise to British troops. And they revealed they had known his secret identity as The Stig ever since he landed the job on the BBC's flagship motoring show in 2003 - even though fans were in the dark.
Winning driver ... Ben Collins leaves court
Collins, 35, whose face was hidden from viewers by his race helmet's tinted visor, trained in hand-to-hand combat with the SAS before passing on his driving skills. He was axed from his TV role last night after winning a legal bid to reveal his identity by publishing his memoirs. Beeb bosses had claimed the stunt driver was bound by a confidentiality agreement and that revealing The Stig's true identity would ruin viewers' fun.
Behind you! ... Stig with Top Gear trio
But after a two-day private hearing at London's High Court, Mr Justice Morgan refused to grant an injunction which would stop publishers HarperCollins releasing The Man In The White Suit in two weeks. Insiders said sports car ace Collins, from Bristol, would be given the push when the series returns for its 16th series later this year. One said: "Bosses are livid. There's no way they'll welcome him back. "He's not a full-time employee, just contracted on a per-series basis, so it'll be easy not to renew his deal.
Badge of honour ... SAS emblem
Producers are still deciding whether to axe The Stig entirely or bring him back as someone else."
Collins, who replaced black-clad Stig Perry McCarthy, rushed from court at one point to visit wife Georgina who had just given birth to their third child Cassius. And with his TV identity finally made public last night, The Sun can detail his proud military past. Collins served as a member of the renowned 23 SAS, the regiment of highly-trained reservists. There, chiefs quickly began using him to pass on his driving skills.
There, chiefs quickly began using him to pass on his driving skills. One fellow SAS member said: "We've known he was The Stig all along - it has been a standing joke within the regiment. He worked as a course instructor in Hereford. "On the driving tracks he helped pass on his knowledge of high-speed escape and evade tactics." Sun security expert and former SAS legend Andy McNab said: "Having the best driving skills are a vital part of SAS training. They need to know how to use a vehicle as a form of escape and also a weapon. Weapon
Star pals ... Stig with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise
"The SAS also need to know how to drive safely at high speeds, and that's where The Stig would come in handy. Anyone within the Regiment with the skills he has would have been seized on straight away." Only a handful of people on Top Gear knew the identity of The Stig - including hosts Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Last night HarperCollins called the court ruling "a victory for freedom of speech", while a BBC spokeswoman said the Corporation had not ruled out pushing for damages.
Critics blasted the Beeb for spending tens of thousands of pounds of licence fee-payers' cash on the case.
MP Phillip Davies, a member of the House of Commons culture select committee, said: "I fully expected the BBC to lose the case. "Pursuing a case they have virtually no chance of winning is completely futile because his name was out there."
A Stig's Life
Ben Collins was born in Bristol but spent his first ten years in California where his dad worked.
He became a junior Olympic standard swimmer by the age of nine but at 18 launched his driving career in Formula Ford.
On his debut as Silverstone he clocked up a record time on his first lap.
Within four years he was in Formula 3.
Former World champ Sir Jackie Stewart tipped him as a future star.
In 2001 he raced at the Le Mans 24-hour classic - and for four hours, in the rain, was fastest in his class.
He has also driven in British ASCAR oval racing and in 2003 won six of 12 rounds.
In 2009 Ben became a driver for an Australian V8 Supercars team.
He was also a stuntman driving in 2008 Bond movie Quantum Of Solace.
2002 - BLACK-clad Stig starts on Top Gear. Under helmet is driver Perry McCarthy.
2003 - PERRY outs himself and black Stig is "killed off". White Stig replaces him.
2005 - RUMOURS over F1's Mark Webber after Clarkson gives him I Am Stig T-shirt.
2006 - EX-world F1 champ Damon Hill appears on show and jokes he may be Stig.
2008 - STIG collects Top Gear's National TV Award for best factual programme.
2009 - F1 star Michael Schumacher is "revealed" as Stig in a stunt by Clarkson.
2010 - THE Stig greets show's biggest ever guests - Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz.
Rise of secret Top Gear racer
Top Gear on BBC America - Official Site
The SAS, Special Air Service, British Special Forces Information and SASR, NZSAS, Who Dares Wins
SAS - Special air service - 22 SAS
Special Air Service - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
“Thought you might be interested” ping :-)
I liked him as Stig, now I like him even better.
Ditto. The guy should be Bond. SAS hero, great driver and handsome. Fire fat and annoying Clarkson and make him the star or get rid of the little bloke. Keep James May - he is hilarious.
Me too....I’m glad that the SAS troops are getting such top-notch training, and I hope that our American forces are as well.
He’s always impressive to watch on the program.
Sorry, I forgot to mention that at the linked Sun page there’s a video report from Sky TV where they fill in some of the blanks and also mention that he raced in NASCAR as well.
What a tremendously accomplished guy!
Right on! Dude’s from California (sort of).
Is this a television show? Is it on cable?
It’s a great show. In the US it’s on BBC America, but the older seasons are available on Netflix. They make fun of everything, especially Americans and British leftists.
It’s actually a bit sad to have the Stig’s identity made public, but it does happen.
Another nice thing about him is he is married with three children. A lot of people in Europe/UK find it more stylish to have children out of wedlock. He sounds like a good guy.
I like your combination - it definitely would make a better show.
Have you seen any of the James May “Toy Stories” shows? They are quite good.
Do you get it at your house on cable or satellite?
No I cancelled it a year ago but can watch it on You Tube.
No. I cancelled Tv. I think May did something with Legos or something. He is very funny. The other two are very goonish, pick on May unmercifully and he is also very polite and well mannered. He has a very dry and deadpan humor.
The best show was when he drove the Veyaron up to 252 mph on the VW test track 5.2 mile straight. I also like how he is a huge fan of the Fiat Panda. Just an odd choice.
I also like how he argued the design of the Alfa Romeo to a Scottish University art school and won versus Hammond arguing for a Mzda and Clarkson for a Audi(??). I do not remember. The uni profs picked the sexy Alfa.
What is the link?
Link on You Tube? They have old bits and pieces. It is a good show but it was not that great. Clarkson and Hammond get tedious very quickly in my view.
The only thing I miss on TV is The British Open (golf). I can watch The Masters online.
So it isn't really on youtube? I'm getting confused here, do you watch it?
I’m sure Stig has been outed for quite a while - never officially verified until now maybe, but people have been certain it’s Collin’s for quite some time.
Here is one reference from almost 2 years ago - there are a bunch of others too. Don’t know why the uproar now as this has been know for a long time.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/driving/article5548705.ece
From the posted Sun article: MP Phillip Davies, a member of the House of Commons culture select committee, said: "I fully expected the BBC to lose the case. "Pursuing a case they have virtually no chance of winning is completely futile because his name was out there."
http://www.youtube.com/user/TopGear
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