Clarkson on the 159

[Evan Bottcher]

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,12529-2101920,00.html

"First of all, it is exactly one million times better looking than a BMW 3-series. And with those triple headlamps, and perfect proportions, at least half a million times better looking than any rivals from Audi, Mercedes or Jaguar."

Also on the old GTV6:
"The styling. And the howl from its V6 engine. In a tunnel, at 4000rpm, it was more sonorous than any music. It was like having your soul licked by angels."

Can the man cr*p on though!

[Scott Farquharson]

Clarkson and Tiff Needell are the best motoring journos in the world - why can't an Aust car show be more like Top Gear and 5th Gear.  Oh I nearly forgot - the best motoring journo in the world is Vicki Butler-Henderson - a girl who can drive and is a hottie in her own english way.

[Evan Bottcher]

Hang on Scott - are you the STIG???

[branko.gt]

Clarkson and Tiff Needell are the best motoring journos in the world - why can't an Aust car show be more like Top Gear and 5th Gear.  Oh I nearly forgot - the best motoring journo in the world is Vicki Butler-Henderson - a girl who can drive and is a hottie in her own english way.

Have to agree regarding Vicki ! Clarkson is good but i prefer to see Vicki !

[Scott Farquharson]

It is a lifelong ambition to become "THE STIG"  -  best job in the world.

[alfagtv58]

I heard a rumour that "The Stig" is Alonso......They did have "The Stig" drive the Renault on one occasion.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Pretty sure I know who The Stig is if anyone's interested?  Not sure about posting it though, don't wanna ruin anyone's suspense...  Hint, he has raced Formula 1

[Evan Bottcher]

I've heard a pretty definitive and reliable answer on who the Stigs were - there were two Stigs (white stig and black stig) who were different drivers.  Neither of them were exactly household names.

Damon Hill was never the Stig, despite common opinion.

[alfagtv58]

OK...I need to know .....I have a bet on with my brother-in-law over who it is.  Perhaps if you dont want to post it, send me a message.

[Scott Farquharson]

Nah - just tell us - I want to know!  I had heard it was Alonso.

[Evan Bottcher]

Check out this video of The Stig crashing a Koenigsegg supercar through a tyre wall on the test track - the first time he's ever been shown to lose a car.  Apparently Koenigsegg admitted a design flaw and sent the car back to Sweden to fit a rear wing to generate more downforce...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFRGF696lH8

[Evan Bottcher]

The original black Stig was Perry McCarthy, the newer white Stig is Julian Bailey to the best of my knowledge.  Both former F1 drivers.  You can debate this answer as you wish... I have no concrete evidence - McCarthy laid claim in an autobiography I believe, and Bailey was uncovered by a british tabloid and it was not refuted.

[Sheldon McIntosh]

Yep the black Stig was McCarthy, I have some concrete, or maybe cement sheet, evidence somewhere in my magazine collection.....   Wasn't even aware there was a new Stig.  McCarthy's is an interesting story.  Proof that if you try hard enough you can achieve anything you want.  Even driving in F1

[Robert Groom]

The original black Stig was Perry McCarthy, the newer white Stig is Julian Bailey to the best of my knowledge.  Both former F1 drivers.  You can debate this answer as you wish... I have no concrete evidence - McCarthy laid claim in an autobiography I believe, and Bailey was uncovered by a british tabloid and it was not refuted.

Yes, according to Wikipedia, the original black Stig was Perry McCarthy and the white Stig is (usually) Julian Bailey ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stig

Other "guest" Stigs include Heikki Kovalainen (the Renault F1 test driver) and Dan Lang (a Swedish snowmobile cross driver)!


And here's the sequel to the previous video of the Koenigsegg CCX, in which the Stig sets the Top Gear lap record ...

http://www.koenigsegg.com/movies/koenigsegg_topgear.wmv

[alfagtv58]

Currently doing the rounds on the net...however it is pretty unlikley

Top Gear: The Stig revealed?
Fans of Top Gear will know The Stig, the anonymous driver who races in the cult auto show's "Star in a Reasonably Priced Car" segment... but no one knows exactly who The Stig is. He's always seen in a racing suit and helmet that hides his entire body, he never speaks, and his true identity has never been revealed.

Or has it?

In an interview with British lad rag Nuts, Comedian Omid Djalili claimed The Stig is none other than English racing car driver Lewis Hamilton.

"When I was on Top Gear around two years ago, I asked the The Stig how old he was," Djalili told Nuts. "He said, 'I'm 21' - the same age Lewis Hamilton would've been two years ago."

"When I asked the producers who The Stig is, they said, 'All you need to know is that, in about two years' time you'll hear a lot about the person who plays him'," the comedian continued. "They'll deny it of course because they're sworn to secrecy. I think it's part of the contract. But I'm telling you, it's Lewis Hamilton!"