He used to race in Formula Ford, Formula 3 and tested for Formula One – and drove off the HMS Invincible while filming for Top Gear.

Vijay Pattni catches up with Perry McCarthy, the original black-suited Stig from Top Gear, on why he wants frilly knickers, what he said about the identity of the current Stig, and driving off an aircraft carrier into sub-zero sea water...

Jeremy Clarkson looks sombrely to the camera and announces: “You’re probably expecting The Stig to turn up with a comedy kipper sticking out of his helmet.”

“The navy divers went in and they couldn’t find him...”

Jeremy, Richard Hammond and James May look doe-eyed as the credits roll…

Perry laughs as he talks about the film: “The last bit of water should be draining out of my helmet as we speak!

“We tried to make it as much like a scene out of James Bond as possible.”

Ex-racing driver Perry McCarthy joined Top Gear in 2002 when it was revamped into a totally different beast from the original format (first presented by Noel Edmonds) featuring Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and later, James May.

McCarthy was the original black-suited Stig – Top Gear’s official test driver.

“After years of motor racing, I wrote a book about my experiences”, says Perry. “In 2002 I remember being at the book launch and Jeremy Clarkson turned up.

“He told me they were planning on re-launching Top Gear into the format you see today, and told me about an idea they had of a ‘top secret’ racing driver. I thought for a second and just said ‘Yes!’”

 

Star in a reasonably priced car

So what did the sharp-talking mute in a black suit enjoy most on Top Gear?

“The star in a reasonably priced car," says Perry. "I loved teaching people how to drive quickly around the Top Gear track. You could actually see they really wanted to get better.

“And the three presenters – Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May – are top blokes. They’re good fun. Even off camera, they’re very witty and we were always keeping the banter up.”

But the big question – who’s the best driver out of the three?

Perry laughs and diplomatically answers: “They’re all ‘above average’ drivers.”

Jeremy Clarkson's most embarassing moments

 

Frilly knickers
 
Perry shot into the limelight when he was unmasked as The Stig from the first few series. What has been his weirdest bit of fan mail since he left the show?

“I normally only get the complimentary ones", says Perry. "Stuff like, ‘Oh, well done’ or, ‘you’re an excellent driver.’

Nothing else?

“Sadly I don’t get any frilly knickers through the post or anything like that. I wish I did to be honest!”

 

Drawing the race card

So how did one of the world’s most famous racing drivers get into the biz?

“I started in motorsport as a bit of a fluke," says Perry. "I had a mate who used to go racing and at the time I used to draw racecars.

“I got a bit interested and went on a few drives and realised, ‘Hey, I’m actually pretty good at this’.

But while he’s driven Formula One cars and the most exotic supercars on Top Gear, his first car was a little less glamorous.

“It was an Escort Mk I. It was painted a special colour called ‘Silver Fox’ – but it was absolutely horrendous.

“It was the automotive version of alopecia. It was a mobile disaster.”

 

High speed drama

Speaking of disaster, have there been any Top Gear test drive calamities?

“I was test driving a Honda NSX and overcooked one of the bends," says Perry. "Suddenly, the car just said to me: ‘Ok sunshine, you’ve had your lot’, and spun me around!”

There was one major accident involving Perry, a rusty old Jaguar with nitrous, and a British aircraft carrier…

“My time at Top Gear ended nicely enough. I’d had a great time and felt it was time to call it a day.

“So we all shook hands and they threw me off an aircraft carrier at over 100mph in an old Jaguar!

View images of the ten fastest cars around the Top Gear test track

 

Tyre safety

So what does the original Stig do to pass the time these days?

“I’m really passionate about safety – especially tyre safety and the work I'm doing with Bridgestone Tyres", says Perry.

“I love a laugh and always have done, but also there is a serious side. A lot of what racing drivers do ties in with road safety.

“People have to understand they’re in a tin can – and hey, these tin cans go quite quickly. They have to make regular checks of the basics in their car, including tyres.

“All it takes is ten minutes.”

Some people spend ten minutes doing their hair.

“Oi! I’m bald!" says Perry. “Actually, I can do my hair in 13 seconds now.”

So the big question remains – who is The Stig?

“I know… but I’m not saying anything…”

Top Gear's The Stig - unmasked at last?

View images of who The Stig might be