The Stig heads to court in legal fight

BEHIND THE MASK: The BBC is fighting to stop a book publisher from unmasking Top Gear's mysterious stunt driver, The Stig.

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It's one of television's biggest secrets but the BBC is now fighting to stop a book publisher from revealing just who is Top Gear's mysterious stunt driver, The Stig.

The broadcaster is taking book giant HarperCollins to the High Court in London today to stop the publication of an autobiography which would unmask the white-leather-clad racer.

The Stig is famed for his segment in the internationally popular car show, where he drives an assortment of cars around Top Gear's test track, ranging from sports supercars to three-wheelers, and for helping celebrities set lap times in the show's "reasonably priced car".

Clad in white race overalls and helmet with a shimmering blue visor, the driver's identity is said to be only known by a handful of BBC executives and Top Gear presenters Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May.

The closely-guarded secret has become a marketing phenomenon of its own with T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like "My Dad is The Stig".

Several racing drivers have been linked to the role. Last season, former Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher was "unmasked" as the driver during a stunt.

Former British F1 driver Damon Hill and most recently racing driver Ben Collins, who was a stunt double for James Bond, have also been linked to the role.

However there have only ever been two Stigs, with the first, Perry McCarthy, being dropped in 2003 after his identity was uncovered.

It is claimed The Stig is bound by a water-tight confidentiality agreement.

The BBC argues that revealing his identity would spoil viewers' enjoyment of the show, which airs on Channel Nine in Australia.

HarperCollins said it a statement that it would vigorously defend the court action and accused the BBC of using licence fee payers' money to pay for the legal action to block the book's publication.

- WA Today