The Stig Tipped For A Return

Following the revelations that Ben Collins is Top Gear’s Stig, Paddy Power has tipped the show at 1/3 to retain a “Stig” in the next series. The show has had to recover from the original black Stig’s real name being revealed and was forced to “kill” him off by launching him off an aircraft carrier. The current favourite for the next Stig exit is driving off a cliff at 6/4, although the producers may use more psychological damage and the racing driver is 14/1 to be beaten by Captain Slow, James May. In a more violent end the former Stig’s SAS background may catch up with him and he is 18/1 to be taken out by the SAS or Clarkson may call on recent guest Tom Cruise to assassinate him at 33/1. Red is the 15/8 favourite to be the colour of the new Stig’s overalls and helmet.

The Beeb however are 2/1 to decide the Stig has had his time and may not attempt to revive the mystery around the driver. With power laps of some of the world’s fastest road cars still a highlight of the show, the producers may turn to some former star racing drivers; Heikki Kovalainen is the early favourite at 6/1 followed closely by Rubens Barrichello, the first driver to beat the Stig in the reasonably priced car at 8/1. Early Stig rumours linked Damon Hill as the mystery driver and he is 10/1 to join the show as himself whilst a more glamorous option would be Jodie Kidd at 20/1.

Paddy Power had already suspended the betting and paid out on Ben Collin’s last week, before the drivers name was revealed at the court case surrounding his identity.

Roberto Coladangelo spokesman for Paddy Power said; “We think the production team are going to have some fun with devising how the White Stig meets his end and may even draw more viewers in to find out. However with the show’s popularity still strong the potential to secure a well know racing driver may be tempting for the producers.”

Will The Stig appear in the next series of Top Gear?

• 1/3 Yes
• 2/1 No

The Stig’s Exit

• 6/4 Car going off a cliff
• 13/8 Car going off a bridge
• 9/4 Car Crash
• 5/2 Caravan disaster
• 14/1 Beaten in a race by James May
• 16/1 Fist fight with Jeremy Clarkson
• 18/1 Taken out by SAS
• 18/1 Stranded in a South American jungle
• 25/1 Incarcerated in prison
• 33/1 Assassinated by Tom Cruise

Colour of next Stig?

• 15/8 Red
• 9/4 Blue
• 9/2 Black
• 5/1 Yellow
• 5/1 White
• 6/1 Gold
• 10/1 Orange
• 12/1 Brown
• 14/1 Green
• 25/1 Purple
• 33/1 Pink

No more Stig? - Top Gear’s Next Driver

• 6/1 Heikki Kovalainen
• 8/1 Rubens Barrichello
• 10/1 Damon Hill
• 12/1 Michael Schumacher
• 16/1 David Coulthard
• 20/1 Jodi Kidd
• 25/1 Nigel Mansell
• 33/1 Eddie Irvine
• 33/1 Jaques Villeneuve
• 100/1 Jenson Button
• 100/1 Lewis Hamilton