People don't remember Top Gear's Stig used to be black before identity was revealed

We now know the mute figure as a racer with professional-level driving abilities, clad head-to-toe in a white race suit and matching helmet – previously revealed to be racing star Ben Collins before he was replaced by another anonymous Stig. 

But before that, there was also a third, who served as the very first iteration of the character when the programme hit screens in the early 2000s. 

At that point, however, the Stig looked vastly different to his modern equivalents, as he was dressed not in white – as has become the signature look – but black. 

 It has been reported that McCarthy was fired from the show after violating non-disclosure agreements with his autobiography Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way, but he claims he left Top Gear of his own accord – saying the passages in his book about his experience on Top Gear were only added in at a later date.

“I was true to my word about not talking about it, saying ‘I was the Stig’. It was quite restrictive, you couldn’t use the fact that you’re one of the most famous racing drivers in the world now for anything. 

“We all want and rely upon income, and BBC wages weren’t exactly what I was used to because I was driving for Audi at the time and they were very generous to me in the world championship at Le Mans. 

“It was just like ‘OK guys, Top Gear’s incredibly successful, the Stig is incredibly successful, and this needs to be reflected in what I’m getting paid … and they didn’t agree. No problem to me, zero problem. I just said 'OK, see you later'.”