FAQ 1 - Who actually is The Stig?
The identity of the Top Gear test track driver has traditionally been shrouded in mystery, but it's now fairly certain who the original Stig was. To find out, read The Stig: Behind the helmet. And the new Stig? Some say Damon Hill, others suggest Nigel Mansal, but the bookies favourite is Ben Collins, an experienced single seater and Sportscar driver.

FAQ 2 - Do the presenters get free cars?
The short answer is - no! The Top Gear team work closely with car companies in order to select which vehicles are featured on the show, but strict BBC regulations (put in place to ensure impartiality) mean that Hammond, Clarkson and May have to buy their cars from dealers, like us mere mortals.

FAQ 3 - Why was the original Top Gear axed?
Basically because of Clarkson. When he left the show in 1999 to broaden his TV career, the audience fell from six million to under three million. The show had been fairly middle-of-the-road until Clarkson injected some much-needed bite in 1989, and it was only when Jezza decided to return to Top Gear in 2002 that the BBC considered it worth bringing back.

FAQ 4 - Do the team's opinions affect car sales?
They can do. The most extreme example was the Ford Ka. Sales plummeted when Clarkson decided that it "looked like a frog". On the other hand, even more damning statements have not affected sales of the Toyota Corolla and heaps of praise from the team didn't help the Alpine Renault A610.

FAQ 5 - Was the Top Gear theme written specially for the show?
No, it's actually a song called Jessica by US rock group, the Allman Brothers Band. The seven minute instrumental, from their album Brothers and Sisters, was a hit for the group in 1973. Top Gear initially used part of the original recording, but has since recorded its own version.

FAQ 6 - Just how tall is Clarkson and just how small is Hammond?
The height difference between the two presenters is obviously a bit of a running gag and here's why: Clarkson clocks in at a striking 6 foot, 4 inches, whilst Hammond manages a more modest 5 foot, 7 inches. Which makes the total distance between the fellow Yorkshiremen an impressive nine inches!