Book reveals The Stig's identity. Top Gear not happy.

I love the way the producers have tried to criticise Collins and the book publishers as being shameless cash-in merchants. Right yeah, because you guys weren't appreciating the easy merchandising all those Stig-related toys were getting you, eh boys?

If the rumours that Collins was receiving a pittance in comparison to the presenters, I can't say I really blame him for this move.
 
Weebull said:
I love the way the producers have tried to criticise Collins and the book publishers as being shameless cash-in merchants. Right yeah, because you guys weren't appreciating the easy merchandising all those Stig-related toys were getting you, eh boys?

If the rumours that Collins was receiving a pittance in comparison to the presenters, I can't say I really blame him for this move.
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Why should he get paid as much as the presenters? I would assume he's paid more than the going rate for a review/test driver.
 
He's not exactly gonna be hard-up though, and 'Ben Collins' isn't anywhere near a big enough name to get people going, an anonymous stig worked much better.

Perry McCarthy went before him, and this cycle will happen again.
 
Its six year old news. Anyone remember the short video of the 24hr 2CV race in which Hammond took part in back in the early days of new Top Gear. There were four drivers on the team, Hammond, a vicar, fastest political party guy and Ben Collins. All very normal, but during the few side on shots of the car you could see the drivers names on the windows. Collins was missing, but "STIG" appeared instead.

I wonder what sort of incarnation the new Stig will take?
 
Flibster said:
So the confidentially agreement doesn't matter then if enough money is involved?
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Exactly, he signed up to the agreement and salary, I doubt he was forced to take the job :confused: he or at least his publishers are probably only desperate to include this to save an otherwise dire book. Not that anyone needs to buy it for that reason now because they've spewed it all over the tabloids
 
csmager said:
I'd take that article with a pinch of salt - I would think they'd use a local racing driver out there.
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Yeah agreed, though I wouldnt be surprised if Collins has been booted - they could use a series of drivers as the Stig til they settle on a 'home' one...

ps3ud0 :cool:
 
Tefal said:
Isn't the stig more than one person?
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The majority of the time it's Collins. It'll be someone else when it's a special car being put around the track that either the manufacturer don't want an unknown entity driving - eg. the FXX with MS driving - or can't get insurance to cover it - like the 2005/6 Renault F1 car which was driven by Heikki Kovalainen, who was Renault test driver at the time.
 
I think they should just let Ben continue without his disguise and perhaps give him a spot on the show where he provides feedback for each car after he does the power laps.
 
uvarvu said:
I think they should just let Ben continue without his disguise and perhaps give him a spot on the show where he provides feedback for each car after he does the power laps.
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If Fifth Gear have any sense they'll be on the phone to him right now with that offer.

TG won't do it though as they'd lose too much on merchandising.
 
I'd expect them to kill him off again, although they did blow him up in the last series, he was in it afterwards though.
 
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