Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[UPDATE: The Stig NOT revealed... in Belgium?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/the-stig-revealed-in-belgium/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/the-stig-revealed-in-belgium/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/05/22/the-stig-revealed-in-belgium/#commentsFiled under:



UPDATE: Thanks to a handful of readers, we received the image above showing Schrick and the Stig embodied in separate meat vessels. That means one of two things: Schrick is NOT the Stig or Top Gear employs several Stigs.

Certain mysteries aren't meant to be solved, and when it comes to the Stig, ignorance is bliss. But when we got a tip about Top Gear's top test driver caught walking around without his trademark white helmet, we were simultaneously skeptical and intrigued.

The Top Gear crew was caught on one of its legendary crap can races, this time with stripped-out compacts strapped to the roof, when someone wielding a video camera outside of the racetrack caught a glimpse of an unmasked driver wearing what is assumed to be the Stig's white racing suit and carrying a matching white helmet. The blurry shots appeared on Autoblog.nl (no relation) and the speculative efforts of the Dutch enthusiast community pegged the man behind the mask as ace test driver Tim Schrick.

Schrick has had his fair share of publicity, primarily doing reviews for a few German television shows (we've posted a video of him caning the Porsche Carrera GT after the jump), and although the screen captures above doesn't give us a clear view of Schrick (we think he looks a bit older), it's the most plausible theory available.

The question that always pops into our minds when we hear about another spotting of the Stig is whether Top Gear employs different drivers for different segments of the show. Jeremy, May and Hammond were on the set, so it's conceivable that Schrick is the "real" Stig, but unless other evidence is offered, we remain comfortable assuming that the Stig is part man, part machine and all bad-ass. Thanks for the tip, Laurens!

[Source: Autoblog.nl]

Continue reading UPDATE: The Stig NOT revealed... in Belgium?

UPDATE: The Stig NOT revealed... in Belgium? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 May 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>belgiumstigstig tim schrickStigTimSchricktim schrickTimSchricktop gearTopGearThu, 22 May 2008 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: 911 997 GT3 at the 'Ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/video-911-997-gt3-at-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/video-911-997-gt3-at-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/05/video-911-997-gt3-at-the-ring/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Porsche and Nürburgring seem to go hand-in-hand. The ultimate customer race cars and the ultimate test of man and machine. Where many companies have proving grounds to help develop their sports cars and sport sedans, the Germans are blessed with the Nordschleife. Porsche has always said that it races to improve its street cars, and it shows. And taking a new Porsche to the Ring is like a right of passage. Increasingly, though, the Green Hell is being used by many non-German companies to see how their product stands up against the competition. It's actually turned into something of a fad, with companies like GM insisting on letting the world know that everything from Saturns to Cadillacs have had their handling tuned at the famous track. That in no way takes away from the reputation of the track itself, which continues on as a great testbed for new vehicles of a sporting bent.

And when a new Porsche takes to the Ring, it gets some attention. How does it stack up against other Porsches? Other sports cars? Past special Porsches? Race cars even. As our favorite current Porsche, it's nice to see the new 997-based GT3 gets its crack at the track. Piloted by DMAX's D Motor presenter Tim Schrick, you can really get a feel for how well this car has been tuned. The YouTube video of the ride follows the jump. In German with no subtitles, the message still comes through loud and clear. This is one impressive Porsche, and therefore one great sports car.

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: 911 997 GT3 at the 'Ring

VIDEO: 911 997 GT3 at the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Mar 2007 20:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>997 GT3997Gt3NürburgringNordschleifePorsche 911Porsche 911 GT3Porsche911Porsche911Gt3Tim SchrickTimSchrickMon, 05 Mar 2007 20:07:00 EST