Stig spotted in Australia for TGA
1 Aug, 2008
53 Comments 
Some say he never leaves his test track, and that a fear of aerodynamic lift means he can never fly on an aeroplane - but he does… and he has.
The Stig has been spotted in Australia recently, driving one of only two right-hand drive Ford GT’s in the world for the first season of Top Gear Australia.
Unfortunately the Stig was as elusive as ever, keeping his trademark white helmet on the entire time to hide his true identity.
It seems Camden airport in New South Wales has been adopted as the home ground for the local series, with the team reportedly using the main runway as well as a few of the taxi ways to create their own test track.
Thanks to LS1.com.au
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August 1st, 2008 at 1:25 am
My guess, Wayne Gardner or Neil Crompton
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August 1st, 2008 at 1:27 am
It could be any number of drivers including the two guys you mentioned.
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August 1st, 2008 at 1:35 am
Frugal did you notice the bench seats in the train matey!!
Who is the Australian Stig then?
Sounds pretty much like a direct copy of TG UK….. Stig, airport track, 3 presenters of differing characters.
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August 1st, 2008 at 1:58 am
CarAdvice, you shouldnt try and copy the boys at Top Gear with your Stig-Lead-Ins. What did you mean never leaves his track? Hes sitting on a train in the picture you selected! Not to mention all the Top Gear specials where he wasnt on the track. I don’t mean to go on but I like logic. And No Name, I dont think this is a picture that was taken in Australia. I believe it was from an episode where they boys put 4 different ways of travelling through London to the test and the Stig took public transport.
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August 1st, 2008 at 2:08 am
Alex you are joking right?
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August 1st, 2008 at 3:02 am
Yeh I know that Alex. Just saying Australia have a Stig, have an airport test track and 3 goonie presenters. a dirct copy of TG UK.
Its all a play on the unknown stig, besides on the lower photo the stig IS in Australia.
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August 1st, 2008 at 6:25 am
The lead shot is a promo shot and the bottom shot inside the story is at Camden- hello!
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August 1st, 2008 at 8:33 am
I’ve got high hopes for TG Australia. I reckon it will actually be okay.
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:05 am
I’m looking forward to it too, we need more test’s of Aussie cars
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:12 am
although i think a copy of the UK top gear would be bad, I do not understand how a locally produced car-orientated television show can not be better than watching re-runs of shows like CSI.
As long as it doesn’t aim to appeal to the bogans with a Holden v Ford focus every week, then it should be better than 90% of the rubbish of free to air TV.
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:13 am
*Comment has been deleted - violation of code of conduct*
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:16 am
I’m hopeing it is not a direct copy as the Australian show is going to need its own identity or people will switch off.
Perhaps the UK stig, or at least the concept is a guest star for the first show. Anyway I wonder, did they book him a seat on a flight or did they just turn him off and pack him in a crate?
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:28 am
Some say his accent can only be understood underwater and that his eye actually look inwards…but seriously, what a fantastic way to launch the series! Go Sir stiggy!
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:34 am
My question is, what are they going to do in the second episode, after they run out of Aussie cars to test?
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:55 am
…most likely give us vital information on really important cars like the Renault Kangoo and the new Saab (destined only for the Arkansas market). Sound familiar reckless…
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August 1st, 2008 at 10:34 am
NoName! GOLD!!! :-) But is it on LPG?
Is it the GENUINE UK Stig [of which its more than 1 person anyway] or a Aussie Stig?
We *could* in a group, grab him and rip off his helmet?Would be a world scoop!
I believe the UK Stig is the unworthy F1 Champion of name DamonHill.
Cheers
F-0
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August 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
yeah and if there was no stig and no test track you would all be saying (in your best james may voice) “oh its not as good as top gear uk, they have no stig, no test track…”
How can it be top gear without the stig and without a test track? Ofcourse they have these things, its part of the shows identity. They always said they will take the best of what is top gear, and then give it an australia theme. As far as i can see that is exactly what its doing. Will it be as good as the UK? Probably not becuase they don’t have clarkson who is a genius, but take it for what it is, an aussie motoring program and by the looks of it, a good one.
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August 1st, 2008 at 11:02 am
Frugal one, its definetly not damon hill, remember damon was the first “F1″ driver to go around in the reasonably priced car and he sucked. He did his lap in the dry around 3 seconds slower then the stig, and even mark webber was only half a second slower and he did it in the pouring rain. Nup Hill is rubbish. I’ve heard rumors that its actually Eddie Irvine. Its definetly an ex-F1 driver and i reckon the shoe fits with Eddie.
The aussie one won’t be neil crompton because he has a channel 7 contract. I reckon it could be someone like Jamie Whincup, definetly a V8 supercar driver anyway is my guess. If he is really tall and lanky we will know its Garth Tander, if he is quite short and a bit pudgy then it’ll be Jason Bargwana, if he has a larger chest then normal then he is actually a she and its Leanne Tander. Other then that it’s anyones guess!
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August 1st, 2008 at 11:06 am
oh and if the visor is cracked open slightly so the stig can fit his nose in the helmet then its skaifey, and if you can see a huge fake smile beaming through the visor you know its lowndes. This could go on a while…
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August 1st, 2008 at 11:10 am
Richo,
I believe that Damon did a dude lap on purpose to throw everybody off.Its worked with you! :-)
Cheers
F-0
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August 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
but Damon is slow man! The year he won the world championship the williams was a MASSIVELY superior car to anyone elses, and he still only just won it.. the year before he lost the world championship (in admitedly dodgy circumstances thanks to M. Schumacher running into him) in a car that again was massively suprerior to anyone elses. A decent driver would have run away with both championships. Damon’s a nice guy, but a top F1 driver he is not. Was only there because of his name.
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August 1st, 2008 at 11:50 am
and what the hell is your point with him being muslim or not TP ?
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August 1st, 2008 at 12:23 pm
it was a bit of an (albiet iffy) joke about muslims and aeroplanes i think.. no big deal alien, keep your pants on
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August 1st, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Black Stig - Perry McCarthy
White Stig - Ben Collins
White Stig has also been mario Andretti, Heikki Kovalavien
Oz possabilities other than those mentioned
Glenn Seton
Warren Luff
Dean Canto
Stuff it insert any sacked Level 1 V8 driver
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August 1st, 2008 at 12:34 pm
yeah I’m sure it was just a joke Richo, a few come to mind but I’ll leave them alone for now.
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August 1st, 2008 at 3:48 pm
Could be JB
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August 1st, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Jim Richards would be my pick.
Seton - never was fast
Luff, Canto - who??
JB - would crash every car
And yes, DH is rubbish, as mentioned was barely able to win with a 2 second advantage. Thank god Shumi took him out and prevented the second title - we already have a double champion who only won because the Renault was 2 sec faster, and look what he’s done since - nada.
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August 1st, 2008 at 4:27 pm
I second that.. i’d put my money on Jenson Button too, they have the same build and walk in the same way
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August 1st, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Whaat my post was deleted. It wasnt a racist comment, if you were aware of the developments in Camden in recent months youd understand the joke!
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August 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
i want to see uk stig vs aus stig :D
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August 1st, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Whoever the stig should be it, all he needs to be is fast, personality wise he doesnt need much at all! just needs to be robot stiffo.
Heck the African Stig was hilarious and a fresh spinoff character!
TP, the muslim remark is crossing bigotry, religion has nothing to do with driving fast around a track.
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August 1st, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Joober your missing the point completely. If you were up to date with events youd be aware recently residents of Camden rallied against a Muslim school being built near by and it wasnt a inspiring piece either, they came across as complete hicks. This is why I made my comment. I was not being racist.
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August 1st, 2008 at 5:27 pm
uhh TP post deleted, well if it was a joke, make it sound )read) like one. Otherwise it looked serious when people read it.
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August 1st, 2008 at 6:46 pm
Reckless its obvious you don’t know much about driver’s
Seton never fast??? Please, no-one could touch him in ‘93 and he won the ‘97 Championship with a single car team. He lost his nerve after that massive testing crash at PI in ‘01 but still managed 3 podiums at Bathurst after that.
Warren Luff & Dean Canto, Well both of them have won championships. Canto has plenty of raw speed I’d be watching out for him at Bathurst.
JB one of the most talented drivers you’d see. Much like a certain gentleman Jim.
So Reckless what’s your racing credentials????
I’m putting my money on JB being the Aussie Stig, looks about the right height & build.
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August 1st, 2008 at 7:14 pm
whoa reckless Seton was never fast? Man you must have a blood short memory! He was incredible when he was younger, i still have VERY fond memories of his miraculous car control shown in the pouring rain by channel 7 on race cam, in 97 he dominated, he use to be the best in the country buddy!!!
Also i can think of a pretty cool peice on aussie stig vs uk stig! Put them in identical cars, make sure their is lots and lots of overtaking and… by the end of the race no one will know who won because they are in identical cars with identical race suits and helmets! And they won’t talk and say who is who.
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August 1st, 2008 at 7:15 pm
look up seto on race cam at bathurst 87 on youtube and prepare to be impressed!
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August 1st, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Sorry ive not been back till now. I was just joking before. :)
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August 1st, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Ah yes Rich I almost forgot about that in the P.J. Skyline in the wet on slicks. Some of the best driving you’ll see anywhere in the world.
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August 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
I love how everyone assumes a v8 driver, as if it couldn’t be someone from the Carerra cup, touring car championships or anything else that is raced in Australia! I don’t think a v8 driver is necessarily cut out for the faster racing in an F1 car but I’m sure an F1 driver could handle a v8 supercar.
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August 1st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Me wants:
UK Stig vs Aus Stig vs African Stig :)
Also out of the blue, I reckon L.Hamilton would beat Stigs record, last episode he had an amazing run in wet and OILY conditions!
Speaking of which cant wait for this weekends GP! Go Mclaren!
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August 1st, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Austin you would be assuming wrong. A V8 supercar is a very unique race car and is very different to drive to an open wheeler. I’m not saying that V8 drivers are the best in the world but Formula Drivers tend to struggle going from Open wheelers to tin tops, example Mika Hakkinen won 1 or 2 races in DTM but never really dominated as you might expect from a 2 time Formula 1 champion.
But your right it could be anyone from the other categories but it would have to be a driver who can drive any type of car fast which more than likely most driver’s below the V8’s can’t. Apart from Craig Baird, Warren Luff, Jim Richards & JB. I’m still leaning more towards JB because of his development work with FPV he would have the most experience with driving production cars fast.
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August 2nd, 2008 at 6:51 am
Its proberly TheChip, remember him on the Aussie cloned show?
Jeremy gets 2 million pounds a year, not a bad gig!
Cheers
F-0
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August 2nd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Fair enough Glen, I wasn’t aware of Mika Hakkinen’s lack of success driving other cars.
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August 2nd, 2008 at 11:04 pm
Hey how about a bit of conspiracy theory?
It’s Brocky!!! Faked his own death just to be the Aussie Stig, at least no-one would suspect him.
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August 2nd, 2008 at 11:17 pm
Neal Bates.
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August 2nd, 2008 at 11:24 pm
Yeah Neal or Rick would be excellent candidates actually.
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August 3rd, 2008 at 8:57 am
I think TP or Luke GT/AKA Guess Who/Dingo….. should get a gig as the Stig. Might give them an opportunity to drive a rwd car with character and desirability.
Honestly though, regardless of who the Stig is, it would be good if they could have Darryl Eastlake commentate on the laps. HUUUUUGGGGEEEE!!!!!!
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August 11th, 2008 at 11:07 am
For those arguing about F1 drivers in tin tops, remember Alan Jones?
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September 10th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Sir Jim Richards?????
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October 6th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Aussie Stig is actually Neal AND Rick Bates…they use both!
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October 6th, 2008 at 8:44 pm
After watching The Stig throw fis flowers into the grave on the second show, his right handedness clearly points toward him being none other than Ernie Dingo.
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October 24th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
Believe the Stig could be Ian Dyk, having driven F3, Carerra Cup & A1GP……right height and build and has dropped off the rader this year since A1GP
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October 24th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
darryl eastlake really is stig! holds racing licence for over 30 years and can really drive a car fast, take it from me, the foxx
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