Some say, his droppings have been found as far north…as York, and that he has a full-sized tattoo of his face, on his face…all we know is…he’s called Ben Collins?

Yes, everybody’s favourite ‘tame racing driver’ has been ‘revealed’ as former Formula 3 and FIA GT racer Ben Collins, by a host of national newspapers.

But YOU already knew that, didn’t you?

As far back as January 2008, Auto Trader readers commented on The Stig’s possible identity.

Some say, he thinks the credit crunch is a breakfast cereal…

Top Gear’s spokespeople will not comment on the identity of its beloved racing driver, and rumours are there is actually more than one Stig.

Few people really know if The Stig is Ben Collins. But if the rumours are true, just who is the man behind the helmet?

Ben Collins began racing in Formula First and Formula Vauxhall Junior at 19, before competing in Formula 3 racing – two tiers behind World Champion Lewis Hamilton in Formula 1.

Collins was reported as setting the pace for the Le Mans series in 2001, and competed in the 2005 British GT Championship in a Porsche 911 GT3…a car which Top Gear fanatic and Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay (see below) is particularly keen on.

Ben Collins then moved up to the FIA GT series, and was a test driver for carmaker Ascari, during development of its hardcore A10 supercar.

Some say, he gets terrible eczema on his helmet…

He’s also appeared on Top Gear – fuelling speculation from an early stage of his helmeted-alter ego – when a skydiving parachutist jumped from an aeroplane into the backseat of a convertible Mercedes-Benz driven at high speed by Collins.

He also raced a ‘mountain-boarding’ world champion in a Bowler Wildcat, and was part of a five-a-side football team driving Toyota Aygos, captained by Richard Hammond – who was recently reported as injuring himself after falling off a horse.

And speaking of Hammond injuring himself, a report into his 2006 high-speed accident revealed Collins had apparently “worked closely with Top Gear as a high performance driver and consultant”.

Some say, he’s actually the real James Bond…

But the ‘world’s luckiest man’ scored another dream role, after his driving skills were required to fill in for the world’s greatest secret agent…and one of Britain’s best exports.

Yes, Ben Collins was a stunt driver in 2008’s James Bond film Quantum of Solace, and drove the super-sexy Aston Martin DBS.

The Daily Telegraph quoted Collins as saying: “It was a bit like a dream come true to work on a Bond film. On the first day filming I had to pinch myself as I was sitting there in Bond’s pinstripe suit with an Omega watch.

“There were sheer drops of a thousand feet on some of the roads. I think a highlight was sliding the DBS up the mountain road between two giant rocks…”

Some say, he could be on the dole…

But if it really is Ben Collins, then he may want to start looking for a new job. When the old Stig – Perry McCarthy – revealed his black-suited alter-ego in an autobiography, he was promptly shown the wrong end of an aircraft carrier, and into the sea.

Auto Trader Blog readers reckon it is – here’s what YOU said about The Stig’s true identity…

• Mark Walters: “The Stig is Ben Collins - Ascari’s test driver!!”
• Dan: “IT IS INDEED BEN COLLINS!”
• Tim Ray: “Ben Collins is my bet”
• Steve Rogers: “The Stig is ben collins, you can tell by his size and driving style he also has links with the show”
• Frazer: “the stig is ben collins. i work as a test driver at millbrook and have seen him there on numerous occasions.”
• Lee Nicol: “The stig is Ben Collins!!”
• Modernathena: “Ben Collins. Not only does he have the driving chops, but I believe that the Stig’s nice butt looks the same as his.”
• Mike: “I think it’s my next door neighbours nan, she drives just like The Stig!”
• Willgetin: “Hi, if you look closely, it is very evident who it is. It is…a Terminator!!”
• Roy: “Its either Ben Collins or Nigel Mansell.”

Who do you think The Stig is? Have your say on the Auto Trader Blog

Who - or what - is The Stig?