The Secret’s Out: Who Was the Third and Final Stig?

Now that Top Gear and The Grand Tour have wrapped up (at least for now), the former hosts are spilling the beans on some of the show’s most closely guarded secrets. One of the biggest reveals came from Jeremy Clarkson during a Q&A session at the screening of the final episode of Top Gear. Clarkson finally let the cat out of the bag, revealing the identity of the third and final Stig.

A Brief History of the Stigs

Over the course of 33 seasons, there were three different Stigs. The first two were Perry McCarthy, a British Le Mans and Formula 1 driver, and Ben Collins, a British racing driver and stunt ace. McCarthy’s Stig was the only one to wear a black racing suit and only lasted two seasons. Collins, on the other hand, lasted much longer but was eventually let go from Top Gear in 2010 after revealing his identity as The Stig in his autobiography, The Man in the White Suit.

The Identity of the Third Stig

So, who was the third and final Stig? According to Clarkson, it was Phil Keen, a British GT Championship driver and considered one of the most successful, with 24 wins, 16 poles, and a Supersport class win. Keen was The Stig from 2010 to 2022.

Clarkson’s Take on the Future of Top Gear and The Grand Tour

During the Q&A session, Clarkson also shared his thoughts on the future of Top Gear and The Grand Tour. He recommended that both the BBC and Amazon stop looking to hire famous people to continue hosting their respective shows and instead look for young car enthusiasts who aren’t famous, just like the original Top Gear trio were at first.

A Glimpse into the World of Top Gear

As someone who grew up watching Top Gear, it’s fun to get some behind-the-scenes info on the show that inspired so much of our collective car enthusiasm. Clarkson’s Q&A session was filled with interesting facts and anecdotes about both Top Gear and The Grand Tour.

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