As Top Gear’s Stig, Ben Collins tested an unprecedented variety of cars during his eight-year tenure and pushed them to the edge of the envelope around the test track. Some say that his heart rate never exceeded 80 beats per minute at Dunsfold, all we know he’s now back racing at Le Mans where his heart belongs.
| Car used | Time (mins) | Ben’s Verdict |
| Bugatti Veyron SS | 1.16.8 | Brute beauty. Sometimes 1,000 BHP just isn’t enough |
| Gumpert Apollo | 1.17.1 | Handled like a Le Mans car and stuck to the road like a squashed toad |
| Ascari A10 | 1.17.3 | It’s Yellow. & Possibly fastest on a dry track. |
| Koenigsegg CCX | 1.17.6 | Insane tub-thumper. Easier to rip the head off a spitting cobra in the dark (with Top Gear spoiler) than drive one without a spoiler |
| Noble M600 Pagani Zonda F Roadster Caterham R500 Bugatti Veyron Pagani Zonda F Maserati MC12 Ferrari Enzo Lamborghini LP670 SV Ferrari 458 Ariel Atom Lamborghini LP560 Ferrari Scuderia Nissan GT-R Lamborghini LP640 Porsche Carerra GT Koenigsegg CCX Corvette ZR1 Ascari KZ1 Mercedes McLaren SLR Ferrari 599GTB Audi R8 V10 Ford GT Porsche 911 Turbo Convertable Audi R8 V10 Spyder Ferrari 360 CS Porsche GT3 RS Corvette Z06 Noble M15 Lexus LFA Mercedes SL Black Murcielago Zonda Koenigsegg Aston Martin DBS Veritas RS III Prodrive P2 Audi R8 TVR Sagaris Mitsubishi Evo FQ400 TVR Tuscan Bentley Continental Supersports Porsche Boxster Spyder Merc E63 AMG Noble M400 Lotus Exige S BMW M3 Saloon Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder Lotus Evora Lamborghini Gallardo BMW Z4 M Porsche Cayman Porsche 911 Carrera 2S Brabus Biturbo Roadster BMW M5 VXR Bathurst Lotus Exige Jaguar XFR Chevrolet Corvette Lexus IS-F Mercedes CLS 55 AMG Aston Martin Vanquish S Aston Martin DB9 Holden Maloo Telsa Roadster Porsche 911 GT3 TVR 350C Nissan 370Z Camaro BMW M3 CSL Roush Mustang Renault Megane R26R BMW Z4 Marcos TSO GT2 Subaru WRX Sti BMW X5M Mitsubishi Evo X Dodge Viper SRT-10 MG SV Porsche 911 Carrera S Mitsubishi Evo VIII BMW Alpina Z8 Mercedes CL65 Ford Focus RS VW Golf W12 Alfa 3.7 GTA Autodelta Ford Shelby GT500 Subaru Impreza STI Vauxhall Monaro VXR Aston Martin DB7 GT Golf R32 Audi S4 Porsche 911 Turbo BMW 760Li Vauxhall VX220 turbo Vauxhall VXR8 New Audi TT Honda NSX Type R BMW M3 Nissan 350Z Mazda RX-8 BMW 535d BMW 130 Mercedes S63 AMG Ford Focus RS Mazda 6 MPS Lotus Esprit V8 Audi TT V6 MG ZT Noble M12 GTO Mercedes SL 55 AMG Volkswagen Golf R32 Audi Q7 V12 TDI Cadillac CTS Honda Civic Type-R Holden Monaro Ford Mondeo ST220 Jaguar XKR Ford Focus ST Volvo S60R Ferrari 575M Vauxhall Vectra VXR Our Car Fiat 500 Abarth Alfa 147 GTA Lotus Elise Aston Martin Vanquish Renault Clio V6 Honda Civic Type R Alfa Romeo Brera Saab 95 Aero Maserati 3200 GT Alfa Romeo 8C Bowler Wildcat Bentley Arnarge Overfinch Range Rover |
1.17.7 |
Powerslides in every gear, gotta love that Turbo. |
| Suzuki Liana | 1:44.4 | driven by The Stig in the 8th series, put on the F1 board, but not put on the studio lap time board |
| Aston Martin DB5 | 1.46.0 | |
| Hawk HF 3000 | 1.48.2 |
Once a week, for nearly eight years, Ben strapped himself alongside people who were famous for something other than driving. He guided them around Dunsfold’s infamous Test Track as fast a humanly possible in a reasonably priced car and survived to tell the tale. Herewith the roll of honor of those brave souls who put pedal to metal to set a lap time.
The KIA Cee’d was the latest mount for Season 15, Korea’s answer to a luke warm bath.
(w) = denotes wet course
Series 15:
| Celebrity | Time (mins) | Ben’s Verdict |
| Tom Cruise Cameron Diaz Rupert Grint Peter Jones Andy Garcia Alastair Campbell Al Murray Jeff Goldblum Peta, 23 from Essex Nick Robinson Bill Bailey Amy Williams Johnny Vaughan Louie Spence |
1.44.2 1.45.2 1.45.5 1.45.9 1.46.1 1.47.0 1.48.1 1.49.0 1.49.9 1.49.9 1.50.8 (w) 1.50.9 (w) 1.53.3 (w) 1.53.69 (w) |
10/10 – top bloke, top of the board, made me wonder if he actually flew the Tomcats in ‘Top Gun’.. |
From season 8 to 14 we rode aboard the Chevrolet Lacetti, a car so tame that it thought it was a kitten called Luc.
| Celebrity | Time (mins) | Ben’s Verdict |
| Jay Kay Brian Johnson Kevin McCloud Simon Cowell Jennifer Saunders Michael Sheen Gordon Ramsay Usain Bolt Peter Jones Trevor Eve Peter Firth Lawrence Dellaglio Les Ferdinand Eric Bana Jamie Oliver Hugh Grant Well spoken man (James Hewitt) Ewan McGregor Rupert Penry-Jones Chris Evans Billie Piper James Blunt Justin Hawkins Simon Pegg Theo Paphitis Mark Wahlberg Michael McIntyre David Tennant Jay Leno Will Young Sir Michael Parkinson Ronnie Wood Harry Enfield Sienna Miller Jools Holland Sir Michael Gambon Alan Davies Steve Coogan Stephen Fry Alan Carr Ray Winstone Keith Allen Rob Brydon Justin Lee Collins Seasick Steve Tom Jones Guy Ritchie Dame Helen Mirren James Corden Kristin Scott Thomas Philip Glenister Kate Silverton Rick Wakeman Boris Johnson Fiona Bruce Brian Cox Jimmy Carr |
1.45.8 1.45.9 1.45.9 1.45.9 1.46.1 1.46.3 1.46.38 1.46.5 1.46.9 1.47.09 1.47.1 1.47.4 1.47.41 1.47.5 1.47.68 (wet) 1.47.7 1.47.69 1.48.0 1.48.1 1.48.1 1.48.3 1.48.4 (wet) 1.48.44 1.48.5 1.48.5 1.48.7 1.48.7 1.48.8 1.48.8 1.48.9 1.49.4 1.49.5 1.49.7 1.49.8 1.49.9 1.50.3 1.50.3 1.50.9 (hot) 1.51.0 1.51.2 1.51.4 (hot) 1.51.7 (wet) 1.51.7 (wet) 1.51.8 1.51.8 (wet) 1.52.2 1.52.5 (wet) 1.52.8 1.53.4 (wet) 1.54.0 1.54.3 (wet) 1.54.7 (wet) 1.55.26 1.57.4 1.57.4 (wet) 2.01.0 2.08.91 |
First order car fanatic, you did it JK! |
For Seasons 1-7, the reasonably priced car was the Suzuki Liana. We literally drove the wheels off this poor car, with a little help from Lionel Ritchie, Trevor Eve and Jimmy Carr. It remains my favourite ‘reasonably priced’ machine and the true benchmark for any real Formula One driver… One day, revenge will be mine Rubens Barrichello…
| Celebrity | Time (mins) | Ben’s Verdict |
| Ellen MacArthur Jimmy Carr Simon Cowell Ronnie O’Sullivan Ian Wright Chris Evans Rory Bremner Justin Hawkins Rob Brydon Jay Kay Jodie Kidd Paul McKenna Patrick Kielty Trevor Eve Dr Stephen Ladyman Neil Morrissey Roger Daltrey Jeremy Clarkson Jamie Oliver Gordon Ramsay Patrick Stewart Lionel Richie Martin Clunes Sir Cliff Richard David Walliams Sir Ranulph Fiennes Sanjeev Bhaskar Timothy Spall Carol Voderman James Nesbitt Christian Slater Omid Djalili Joanna Lumley David Dimbleby Eddie Izzard Jordan Rick Parfitt Christopher Eccleston Sir Tim Rice Steve Coogan Vinnie Jones Fay Ripley Johnny Vaughan and Denise Van Outen Bill Bailey Jack Dee Alan Davies Stephen Fry Rich Hall Martin Kemp Ross Kemp Tara Palmer-Tomkinson David Soul Michael Gambon Geri Halliwell Boris Johnson Davina McCall Anne Robinson Jonathan Ross Johnny Vegas Harry Enfield Billy Baxter Terry Wogan Richard Whiteley |
1m 46.7 1m 46.9 1m 47 1m 47.3 1m 47.8 1m 47.9 1m 47.9 1m 48 1m 48 1m 48 1m 48 1m 48 1m 48 1m 48.4 1m 48.8 1m 49 1m 49.6 (moist) 1m 50 1m 50 1m 50 1m 50 1m 50 1m 50 1m 50 1m 50.7 1m 51 1m 51 (wet) 1m 51.1 1m 51.2 (moist) 1m 51.3 1m 51.4 1m 51.5 1m 51.5 1m 52 1m 52 1m 52 1m 52 1m 52.4 1m 52.7 1m 53 (wet) 1m 53 1m 53 (mildly moist) 1m 53.2 1m 53.4 1m 53.5 1m 54 (wet) 1m 54 (moist) 1m 54 1m 54 (wet) 1m 54 (wet) 1m 54 (wet) 1m 54 1m 55 1m 55 1m 56 1m 56.9(very wet) 1m 57 1m 57 1m 58 2m 01 2m 02 2m 04 2m 06 |
Punched well above her weight – the girl is an Über stoic behind the wheel |
F1 drivers:
| Driver | Time (mins) | Ben’s Verdict |
| Rubens Barrichello Nigel Mansell Lewis Hamilton Jenson Button Jenson Button Damon Hill Mark Webber |
1m 44.3 1m 44.6 1m 44.7 (damp) 1m 44.7 1m 44.9 1m 46.3 1m 47.52 (very wet) |
Ben you are the man, congratulations on winning the series at Le Mans. Just a few comments regarding your leaving TopGear and the crazy idiots for not giving you more exposure:
1. Bring Ben back as fourth host on TopGear…Jeremy is getting old, keeps hurting his neck, and needs to retire!
2. Who the hell came up with TopGear U.S.A? It sucks, the hosts suck, and should be pulled off the air immediately…please stop!
3. Did I mention the executives at BBC are idiots for letting you go?
Ben, good luck for the future not that you need it, I am a big fan, and will be watching your career closely!
Thanks,
Tony Anstey
Just read your book and couldn’t stop grinning, keep up the good work and make sure you keep sharing what your doing (you know what the rest of us are dreaming of doing!!).
i got your book for christmas, first 1 ive finished for years, its amazing, what a life. i loved the stig, but great to see your getting out as yourself to drive real machines again! good luck mate
Ben, I just wanted to wish you all the best with your new ventures. I know the move from TG has been tough but you still have the support of millions of fans worlwide…far more supporters than you might imagine. your time as the white Stig has entertained and inspired people and you brought mystique and charisma to the role. a brilliant example. my 2 year old lad walks around with his model stig everywhere! keep up the good work and keep us up to date on your new projects. good luck mate.
as an American Top Gear fan, let me say that Clarkson, Hammond, May, and the BBC are all full of shit. It was always exciting seeing The Stig take the next car out, seeing how hard you could push it. Top Gear has seriously damaged itself with this. good luck!
I’m from Brazil and my name is Peter Endres and would like to know what are your favorite cars and because you both like and how to drive them.
Ben,
You will always be the ultimate Stig to me… Just an average Canadian here who has watched every episode of TopGear and had independently put together that you were the Stig long before your book came out and have followed your career outside of Dunsfold Park as well.
Best of luck and safe going in your future endeavors.
Ben,
will miss you!! The show just won,t be the same. I have enjoyed watching you drive all those cars for the last few years. I am not a “gearhead”. I am a mom in her 50’s. still, it has been fun! good luck in all you do.
I’d just like to say that as The Stig you gave many many people a lot of pleasure.
Thank you.
Ben forgot to do a lap with the Aston Martin V8 and V12 Vantage.
Ben read the book, loved every page.
we need you to make an appearance at our little race we hold every year
www.youtube.com
Your the greatest man!
I’m from Germany, but i have Batakian blood. I want to say that you are the most great talented driver. I want to say that TopGear have some seriously Biggest mistake. I want to say to them, Clarkson, Hammond, & May why you erasing the greatest talented driver? And Why just because lost by Rubens Barrichello directly replaced to more drivers?
Anyway, I want to say Good Luck for your new Future. Thanks
Kevin Roberts
Ben forgot to post Lewis Hamilton’s lap
I wonder will you ever come back to TG as a SPESIAL guest STAR??
I only started watching TG about a year or so ago and therefore only recently learned about the trouble you encountered after revealing yourself. I absolutely support you for doing so, and I only wish that the Top gear crew had as well. You did not get the respect, the exposure, or likely the salary, that you deserved. You are an amazing driver and I wish you all the best! You will always be The Stig to me. 🙂
To Ben
I got your book for my birthday – fantastic read! Because of you I’ve gone and bought Le Mans the moview with Steve McQueen in it and I’m watching it as I email this. Great stuff.
Good luck with all your racing and tv post BBC and hope to see you at Le Mans in June 2011.
Christian
I for one do not watch top gear any more.
Clarkson is full of himself,he forgets the people who put him where is. Its along way down and clarckson has no parachute. James May grow some balls,as for hammond he not that far behind clarckson!
Good luck ben you will be rememberd when ALL clarckson left is to shag is way thru top gear staff . Ben Collins was top gear.
Ben, you’ll always be the best Stig there was. Good luck for the future.
Hi Ben ,
you are the motoring soul of TG .
Disappointed by Hammond that did not recognized you 🙁 Well maybe he could not see so high.
But we will always will !
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I would like to know what’s new with Ben Collins. I read that Ben was in Poland, but could not find the details since it was in Polish.