As a press stunt, BMW decided to sex up their new wind tunnel by inviting the Dutch model Sylvie van der Vaart for a photo shoot. Officially called a “hairdo experiment”, Sylvie started out by wearing “an eighties-style Bordeaux-colored dress,” echoing the 1987 BMW 3 Series Convertible she was sitting in. Later, she changed into “an elegant beige-colored trouser suit” and got behind the wheel of a 2009 3 Series Convertible.
As you would imagine, the differences in aerodynamics between the two cars were quite remarkable. As Van der Vaart said: “What a difference from the older model! I couldn’t feel the wind at all (in the 2009 model) - I even had to check to see if they’d even turned it on.”
Michael Schumacher has finally been revealed as The Stig. Or has he? In the first episode of season 13 of the popular British motoring show BBC Topgear, the elusive Stig is seen being accompanied into the studio where they shoot the series. Later he is sitting on the guest couch and begins to take off his white helmet. To the audience’s shock Schumi appears from underneath the helmet, fakes a wink and smiles, giving the admiring audience a thumbs-up.
The Stig is one of the most searched words on the Internet. Almost all the searches are interested in one thing and one thing only; getting an answer to the question “who is The Stig?” Several names have been bandied about in the past as concerning this very important question. The only confirmed one is Tyler Perry, an ex F1 tester who was killed off from the series after telling everyone who read his tell-all book that he was the black Stig. Apparently the show’s producers frown upon such behaviour.
Over the past year or so interest has been renewed in The Stig after several media outlets pointed to an ex British racer named Ben Collins as the man under the white racing suit and mask. Some say there is more than one Stig, while presenter Jeremy Clarkson told South African journalists that he is pretty sure The Stig is Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Clarkson even “outed” President Barack Obama as the speechless tame racing driver.
In the new movie “Love the Beast”, the Australian actor Eric Bana plays himself. The film is essentially about the love affair a young man has with his car which has lasted a period of about 25 years. Forty-year old Bana says the car in question is a Ford GT Falcon which to him has become a friend over the years.
There are a few famous cameos in the movie, names like car nut Jay Leno, Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, relationship guru Dr Phil and previous Targa Tasmania Rally winners like Jim Richards and Barry Oliver.
Bana’s role as himself is a first after the actor starred in big films like Hulk, Troy and Munich.
Last night, between the first and second quarters of the Super Bowl, you might have caught a glimpse of the trailer for Fast & Furious 4. Although many people watch this series just for the cars on display, people bored with the franchise may be interested to know that the original stars, Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, and Michelle Rodriguez, are back for this action sequel. Fast & Furious 3: Tokyo Drift director Justin Lin also returns.
Fast & Furious 4 opens in many worldwide markets between 2 April and 16 April.
Top Gear’s Jeremy Clarkson used his column in The Sun newspaper to mock the recent rumors surrounding the Stig’s identity as Ben Collins.
Clarkson insists the rumors are an attempt to spoil everyone’s fun and then goes on to say that the recent reports that the Stig is Ben Collins are wrong and that there is no single Stig. He then jokes about the internet speculation by saying “There are four (Stigs). The main one is Damon Hill. It’s Tiff Needell.”
The drama that surrounds the Stig’s identity has ended up with members of the Top Gear crew being followed by paparazzi which led to naming of Collins who works for the show. Clarkson did admit that for still photographs there are several people who have donned the white suit and helmet in order to portray the Stig but only one is allowed to drive on the track. This leads us to Clarkson’s last jab at the Daily Telegraph were he goes on say that the Stig’s real identity is that of BBC royal reporter Nicholas Witchell.
We all know that the Stig’s identity is one of those great mysteries that would lose all of its intrigue if it were to be revealed. Nevertheless, there’s another story that hints at the secret identity of the man behind the helmet. While the source of the leak was a senior within the BBC, the British TV giant says it will never officially confirm the Stig’s identity.
News of the World reports the Stig is a happily married man in his 30s who lives in modest home and drives a boring £15,000 car. He is said to earn £150,000 a year combining his Top Gear job with some stunt and test driving. Whatever you believe to get out of these comments, we like not knowing who he is. Some say it’s best this way.
The Manchester United winger Christiano Ronaldo escaped without a scratch after his £200,000 Italian supercar was smashed to pieces into a roadside barrier inside a tunnel just outside Manchester Airport. The red Ferrari 599 GTB was badly damaged, particularly on the front end.
The car has a 6.0-litre V12 engine producing 456kW (612hp) and is capable of a top speed of over 330 km/h (205 mph). Ronaldo is presumed to have been traveling alone in the car when the incident took place. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
A witness said: “The front of Ronaldo’s car was completely mangled. There was metal all over the road and debris - and we had to dodge our way through it. Ronaldo was just standing at the side of the road looking forlorn and bewildered.”
A club spokesman said: “Cristiano was involved in an incident this morning. No other cars were involved. He’s fine and is training as normal with the team this morning.”
Daniel Craig has found out that playing James Bond provides him with exceptional bonuses. He has been given a free pass to drive the British sports cars any time he likes. As Bond, the actor drives the sporty British cars - and Aston Martin bosses have told him he’s always free to go for a spin in one of their top motors. Craig, however, doesn’t seem to have plans to purchase one for himself, as he says, “I could drive it faster and more furiously (on the track) than anywhere on the road. I live in London (and) it doesn’t make any sense to drive an Aston Martin there. I’ve nowhere to park it.”
No, this is not a cover of Michael Jackson’s album. Clarkson’s new DVD is about the thrills he experiences behind the wheel, as he explains on this trailer. The Top Gear host drives the most amazing cars in this motoring DVD, including the Aston Martin DBS, Lamborghini Superleggera, Ferrari 430 Scuderia, Porsche 911 Turbo, Alfa Romeo 8C, Mercedes CLK Black Series, and Pagani Zonda Roadster F. “Thriller” officially goes on sale on November 3, 2008.
We all know that the Stig’s identity is one of those great mysteries that would lose all of its intrigue if it were to be revealed. Nevertheless, there’s another story that hints at the secret identity of the man behind the helmet. While the source of the leak was a senior within the BBC, the British TV giant says it will never officially confirm the Stig’s identity.
