Ben Collins has been identifed as The Stig.
Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz with The Stig
A 35-year-old former racing driver from Bristol in England has been named by the British media as possibly being Top Gear star The Stig.
New documents have emerged which appear to identify former Formula Three driver Ben Collins as the masked BBC stunt driver, the Telegraph newspaper reports.
The news comes just days after it was revealed the BBC is taking legal action against the mystery Top Gear star to prevent him from revealing his identity in an autobiography.
Records show earnings rose sharply for Collins' company, Collins Autosports, when the driver took on work to provide "driving services for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear program" in December 2003.
The timing of the increased revenue coincided with the first appearance of The Stig in a white racing suit, at least one of which Collins is known to own.
Previously The Stig had appeared on the popular motoring show in black.
In the documents, Collins Autosports said the business had a "cornerstone year" and that the BBC work had good long-term prospects.
Collins' name had previously being mentioned by UK media in connection with The Stig but he has so far refused to say whether the TV stunt driver is him.
Last week lawyers acting for The Stig said the BBC's move to prevent him from revealing his identity was a human rights issue.
The driver is reportedly upset that he has not been able to profit from his association with the show as its other stars have. [/quote]
Source: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/entertainment/7949303/financial-documents-out-the-stig
