The Stig - Ben Collins - to appear at Silverstone next week
The newly unmasked Stig will appear at Silverstone next week, driving for his Northamptonshire-based racing team.
The BBC yesterday lost a High Court bid to prevent racing driver Ben Collins publishing an autobiography, which will reveal he is the secret star of the BBC's Top Gear programme.
The broadcasters began legal proceedings against publishers HarperCollins last week, claiming the publication of the book would break a confidentiality agreement designed to keep the true identity of the mystery racing driver undercover.
But with the driver's identity now exposed, the Chronicle & Echo can reveal the Stig drives for the Wellingborough based RML Racing team which competes in the Le Mans Series, a championship which includes the famous Le Mans 24 Hour race.
RML's marketing director, Rupert Manwaring, said: "Obviously there have been rumours in the industry for a while, but that didn't concern us. We employed Ben because he was the driver we wanted."
Mr Collins' relationship with RML goes back to 2003, when he won a stock car championship. He re-joined RML in July this year and has so far driven at Le Mans and in the Algarve for the team.
Mr Manwaring said: "Our next race will be at Silverstone on Sunday, September 12. We're hoping to get a good result and win the championship."
He also revealed Mr Collins, who lives in Bristol, was not like his silent on-screen character, adding: "He's a very normal person in real life. He's a very nice guy."
Shortly after he re-joined the RML team in July, Mr Collins – who has done stunt work for James Bond movies – said he was delighted to be working with the Northamptonshire outfit again.
In a statement on their website he said: "My heart has always been in sports car racing. I loved competing at Le Mans and I've wanted to get back into this kind of racing for years, so this is the perfect opportunity for me.
"And these are certainly the type of cars that seem to suit my driving style."
The BBC has not yet officially confirmed Mr Collins is the Stig.
Speaking shortly after the high Court ruling, Top Gear presenter, James May, said: "Obviously I'm now going to have to take some legal action of my own, because I've been the Stig for the past seven years. I don't know who this bloke is, who's mincing around in the High Court pretending it's him."
Mr Collins and the RML racing team will take part in the final stage of the Le Mans Series at Silverstone next weekend.
He will compete alongside the likes of former Formula 1 World Champion Nigel Mansell.
Email to a friend
Print this page- BREAKING NEWS: Tributes paid to Niamh Curry as brave five-year-old loses battle against cancer
- BREAKING NEWS: Pensioner dies after collision at Northampton shopping centre
- Man tied to tree and beaten on Northampton Racecourse
- BREAKING NEWS: Woman’s body found after ‘suicide’ in Northampton hotel room
- BREAKING NEWS: Seven-year-old boy dies following house fire in Northamptonshire
- Northampton binmen at ‘breaking point’
- Staff strike at Northampton school over academy plans forces closure
- Saints’ stadium plans get support as long as traffic issues solved
- Eastern European pupils helping school standards across Northampton
- Exclusive: PM David Cameron says Northamptonshire Police Commissioner role is “a big job for a big local figure”
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Northampton
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
