Author(s): Simon du Beaumarche

TRANSPORT

The author has pursued "Top Gear's" enigmatic The Stig--sometimes literally--in a relentless quest to unearth the truth and now, at last, his incredible findings can be revealed

The Stig is known to millions as "Top Gear'"s tame racing driver," "famed for his skillful driving and his legendary reluctance to speak. Yet almost nothing is known about the man behind the visor. Where did he come from? What is his motivation? Did he really once punch a horse to the ground? Simon du Marche has devoted more than two years to getting inside that trademark white helmet. Through extensive research and in-depth interviews with celebrities, motorsport experts, and "Top Gear" presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May, du Marche has built up an unprecedented picture of what lies beneath the white suit. His quest threw up many questions: can Stig-like characters really be seen in the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt? Was The Stig present at some of the most pivotal moments in history? Why is a driver of The Stig's considerable ability not in Formula 1? How can anyone not understand how stairs work? Happily, these questions and many others will be answered in Simon du Marche's landmark work, "The Stig."