The Stig is Officially Revealed

Oh my gosh! Is it really this guy?

By Thami Masemola
June 22, 2009 1:29 AM
Filed Under: Entertainment

Michael Schumacher has finally been revealed as The Stig. Or has he? In the first episode of season 13 of the popular British motoring show BBC Topgear, the elusive Stig is seen being accompanied into the studio where they shoot the series. Later he is sitting on the guest couch and begins to take off his white helmet. To the audience's shock Schumi appears from underneath the helmet, fakes a wink and smiles, giving the admiring audience a thumbs-up.

The Stig is one of the most searched words on the Internet. Almost all the searches are interested in one thing and one thing only; getting an answer to the question "who is The Stig?" Several names have been bandied about in the past as concerning this very important question. The only confirmed one is Perry McCarthy, an ex F1 tester who was killed off from the series after telling everyone who read his tell-all book that he was the black Stig. Apparently the show's producers frown upon such behaviour.

Over the past year or so interest has been renewed in The Stig after several media outlets pointed to an ex British racer named Ben Collins as the man under the white racing suit and mask. Some say there is more than one Stig, while presenter Jeremy Clarkson told South African journalists that he is pretty sure The Stig is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Clarkson even "outed" President Barack Obama as the speechless tame racing driver.

Now that Schumi has come out maybe the search engines will stop trying so hard to look for The Stig. Or will they?

Source: Top Gear

Comments

jandrews90
June 22, 2009 1:39 AM
lol i don't think Shumi is the real stig, but honestly i think even if they showed the real stig, no one would beleive them anyways and everyone would keep looking lol So maybe Shumi is the Stig? hmm

scratchy996
June 22, 2009 5:47 PM
why not ? some say The Stig can be in several places at once. and he eats his cereals with 100 octane fuel.

GeeNee
June 23, 2009 12:00 PM
Hahahahahaha i love it lol

catchmyshadow
June 22, 2009 1:44 AM
i really think schumi has better things to do than being the Stig, although he would be worthy and would kick ass on the tracks like nobody else.

Prince_Ash
June 22, 2009 1:59 AM
i doubt hes the real stig lol, just another stunt.

Scarcliff
June 22, 2009 2:09 AM
I think he only came on so that Top Gear could put his Ferrari FXX round the track for a power lap. But then again he is one hell of a driver, and only a bloody good driver could have done some of the times that were achieved so i just dont know?!

daviepops
June 22, 2009 1:23 PM
Well articulated Scarcliff, and I agree Schumi was there as a one off to showcase his FXX ... for me white STIG does not drive with the same body language as Michael ... PS IMHO the Aussie STIG is our local V8supercar driver Mark Scaife (retired) because he has exactly the same body language behind the wheel that we've seen many times from incar race camera footage


Edited by user on June 22, 2009 at 1:36 PM
sub39h
June 22, 2009 2:16 AM
apparently the BBC has already released a statement saying that Schumi was only "the Stig" for the FXX power lap (because it's his car).

i thought it was really obvious with the way that Jezza was acting that Michael wasn't the real Stig, especially after the lap at the end and stating that he didn't know his way around the track.

add that to the fact that it would probably be quite tough to get an F1 champion free enough to be able to film (there was an overlap between the appearance of the white Stig and Schumi's F1 career) and you have your answer.

it's not Michael Schumacher.

Anthony
June 22, 2009 2:26 AM
Its not Micheal Schumacher.

In the end credits it said "And The Stig

Special Guest Micheal Schumacher"

Which indicates he is not the stig. He was only the stig as he is the only person able to drive the FXX that was the the Top Gear Test Track.

The stig is someone else, most likely Ben Colins

Scarcliff
June 22, 2009 3:02 AM
On a top gear video about Schuey in the FXX it says "How many laps does it take for Michael Schumacher to know the Top Gear track?". If he was The Stig then he would know the track!

shaahinmt
June 22, 2009 3:08 AM
they say at the end that if he was the stig, why was he so rubbish around the track in the Suzuki. never mind the stig part, what a waist of time was that race. i mean compare it to the season opening of the last series (12), with this one; that had Gallardo LP560-4 vs GT2, lorry testing which was just great fun and hard laugh. This season opening was just (and there is no other way for saying this) BORING. I mean it really felt like 1949 television with very slow pace and all-the-same like sequences plus their new car was a real junk, i mean they even said it in the last series. But in their defense TG usually has bad season starts, so lets hope for that.

Scarcliff
June 22, 2009 3:16 AM
Ah.You need to keep watching for the race in Abu Dubai. There is a drag race between a Bugatti Veyron and a Mclaren F1. They also have the new Lamborghini 670-4 SuperVeloce and the Mercedes-Mclaren SLR 722 S with them.

joshg_5
June 22, 2009 4:33 AM
It would upset me if Schumi was the stig, even though he's the only identifiable man alive to deserve that title. I'm glad he's not.

andy
June 22, 2009 5:40 AM
Keiichi Tsuchiya is Stig, do you know that ? this japanese guy revealed it once on japanese TV show long time ago.

radmeister
June 22, 2009 6:58 AM
He is not the stig, his lines around the track were completely different.

Airbag
June 22, 2009 7:39 AM
Ben Collins was the black stig, the white stig is half a dozen racing/stunt drivers. I wish people would stop acting like this stuff isn't well known, it doesn't take a Nobel laureate to figure it out.

You'd have to be blind not to have noticed that the white stig's height changes weekly and that he doesn't always take the same line around the track. I'm fed up with the bullshit surrounding the stig.

Some say Top Gear jumped the shark a few seasons ago, all we know is this is getting tedious.


Edited by user on June 22, 2009 at 7:39 AM
carbonsigma
June 22, 2009 3:22 PM
Saying the Stig's height is different all the time needs a constant point of reference. Each week is a different car, so you can't use the car to judge the different heights, as different cars have different seats.

Airbag
June 22, 2009 10:29 PM
You can still judge by shots of him walking around ,and his proportions in general though.

Also, I mean to say Perry McCarthy was the black stig, not Ben Collins, he is one of the many white stigs.

nickmini
June 22, 2009 8:23 AM
Schumi is the first "Stigs" to reveal his face in Top Gear.

LaGrange
June 22, 2009 9:33 AM
Well, i'm sure Schumi is not the Stig. Top Gear wouldn't do such thing as showing people who is, because is something that brings more and more viewers, and the incognito ensure that no one blames ''that guy'' for driving faster in one car and slower in another. It's just one person. Simply as that. It would be nice to make a comparison: about their hieghts. Schumi is tall, Stig is also quite tall, but I don't think is as tall as Schumi. Still, not the Stig. Ferrari wouldn't let their car (FXX) be driven except from few persons. Like Schumi.

Sedaer
June 22, 2009 9:39 AM
I thought this was gonna be a stunt where they get Richard whitely or an MP.

N20_Purge
June 22, 2009 10:16 AM
LIES! That FXX is his, the credits had their names separated, and Jeremy said it may not have been him, but that made lol.

But They did a good job getting him on the show. Series 13 is going to be awesome!

chris25
June 22, 2009 10:50 AM
Big Hoax!!! and why would they get schumi to drive all the cars on the British show? and the audience watching the screens were not looking happy.

mc959
June 22, 2009 10:52 AM
Awesome time, but that time shouldn't be on the powerlap list as it not a roadcar, this is a race car for very very very fortunated people. You got +850hp, that car had also slicktyres, and i think it weigh less than 1200kg + schumi at the wheel(and yes, it is his own car) + probably a few technicians that adjusted the settings for the topgear track, so offcourse it will be superfast.

But like always Ferrari prepared everything for this occasion, as for the other cars they just arrive there without changing any setup and are one road tyres. But it's ok, Ferrari has to give something to their fans as it's really nowhere else on real races and tracks(F1, Le Mans,...)

pousa13
June 22, 2009 11:04 AM
i think this "reveal" of the stig is because of the rumours that came up. i think the white stig will have to "go" and the black will be back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lkh0uWFg9c

moon-fades
June 22, 2009 11:21 AM
I can't believe that .. wow

Zenth
June 22, 2009 11:27 AM
lol it is a stunt :P

Bristol411S3
June 22, 2009 12:49 PM
This is all so tiring...

Perry McCarthy was the Black Stig (who the hell is Tyler Perry?).

Ben Collins is the NORMAL White Stig, but they sometimes use other people depending on what car is being driven.

If you don't believe the latter, read the HSE report into Richard Hammond's accident, which confirmed Collins as a consultant to the show, although one that never gets mentioned in the credits...

alessandro
June 22, 2009 1:16 PM
Hahaa! A good one. Hi Stig!

pscs
June 22, 2009 1:45 PM
LOL Jeremy was like is it susan boyle XD

scratchy996
June 22, 2009 2:32 PM
i guess that Schumacher guy will be famous now !

Gajolen
June 22, 2009 4:45 PM
Yeah that schumacher is a damn good driver. Someone should hire him to drive some races one day, I think he would win alot:P

adz612
June 22, 2009 5:13 PM
Just a quick note to the editor. Tyler Perry is a screen writer. Perry McCarthy was the black Stig. Just thought I'd point out the error. :)

Airbag
June 22, 2009 10:30 PM
If you're going to do that on WCF, you're going to be a busy man. ;)

adz612
June 22, 2009 11:09 PM
Trust me Airbag, I've seen so many I might consider asking the editor to take over. ;) (I'm not as cocky as I sound) :P

EH?
June 22, 2009 6:13 PM
I am the Stig.

g5
June 22, 2009 6:29 PM
@ scratchy996 schumacher is already famous he is one of the best f1 drivers in the world

Airbag
June 22, 2009 10:59 PM
Holy s**t, they really do walk among us.

g5
June 22, 2009 6:32 PM
personally i love the stig and his identity is wat makes him and i hope that shumacher isnt the real stig

evo2
June 22, 2009 7:57 PM
Chuck Norris wears "Stig" pajamas at night!

blay
June 22, 2009 8:39 PM
Schumi's not the real stig lol he's just there because he brought his FXX on the show (Schumi's FXX is the only black FXX without a white stripe). Also it would have been him driving it because like hell he's going to let someone else touch his FXX :S

oh and it shouldn't be on the board because it's not street legal


Edited by user on June 22, 2009 at 8:41 PM
Pidgit
June 22, 2009 9:45 PM
Please tell me there aren't people out there who actually believed Schumacher is the Stig!! Great stunt to not only get him on the show but to hype up the new series and bring an epic car to the track. Well done Top Ger

Cootje
June 23, 2009 1:36 PM
Schumi is not the Stig. Probably only for the occasion of driving his own FXX. Schumi is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, but never tried anything else. Absolute no alrounder. Also Top Gear has never been very keen about Ferrari, so why Schumi. Rumours are that this will be Top Gears last season. I really hope not and if they don't they will introduce a green Stig. He could drive electric or other enviroment friendly cars around the circuit (Tesla, electric Lotus).

blay
June 24, 2009 5:31 PM
"Top Gears last season"

Sir, i demand to see your source of these rumours!

cemi
June 23, 2009 3:02 PM
Guys guys take it easy with Schumacher as the Stig joke. Everyone gets it, you don't have to explain like a scientist why Michael cannot be the stig etc, we know it. The Stig is just a character, like batman and spiderman. We don't care who he is.

LEE
June 23, 2009 3:04 PM
I reckon, he was the stig for only that.

Schizo0223
June 23, 2009 9:41 PM
Dammit! According to my t-shirt I am the Stig. Enough of this!!!

khlbt
June 24, 2009 6:02 AM
Stig spelt backwards is "Gits" haha...

maloparac
June 25, 2009 1:43 AM
TO BE SURE. IT IS NOT SCHUMACHER. GO 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_PhvuHDtD0 at the and of show Shumachers name was called as guest. Battle continius

RangeRover
June 25, 2009 3:37 AM
hahaahhahaha great!!!

paperbonez
June 26, 2009 9:36 PM
There is def more then one stig.

spamme
June 28, 2009 5:23 AM
of course Schummy is NOT the stig and I REALLY dont see any point in knowing who the stig is... in the best possibility he is just an ex F1 tester, so.. who cares???

brocky
June 29, 2009 11:08 PM
If Shumi is really the Stig, then there is no one on the planet who get better those lap times around the Top Gear racetrack.

jodab
July 5, 2009 6:27 PM
Perry Mcarthy was the black stig and has also done time as the white one too. Ben Collins does most of the White stig driving with Heiki Koveleinen doing a trip once and a few other local fast lads doing the business when they have time ( major hint just look at the BTCC races) I know because i work on the industrial estae where it is filmed and can be seen reguarly hanging over the fence on the first turn.

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