Interesting thread on K20 Site

[Matt F]

[quote="benyeats"]
I think he is called 'Ben Collins' and is the regular Stig.  The reason for the mask is so they can rotate Stigs as and when to fit in around race schedules for various drivers etc
[/quote]

That makes sense.  Thank you, Ben.

[benyeats]

Furthermore the original Stig (series 1 and maybe 2 of 'new' top gear) was Ex Andrea Moda Judd F1 and Audi Le Mans driver Perry McCarthy, the character was originally to be called 'the gimp' but that was a dealbreaker for McCarthy.  Read his excellent biography 'Flat out, Flat broke - Forumla 1 on a shoestring' for more

Ben