Last week, the BBC tried to stop a major book publisher from revealing the identity of "The Stig," the "tame racing driver" from BBC's 'Top Gear.'

The judge went ahead and revealed it for them. Well done, judgey-wudgey. I can't wait to see how he handles next week's ax murder case. Something tells me I'd better whip out the ponchos left over from that Gallagher concert.

The judge refused to import an injunction against HarperCollins that would have prevented them from publishing a book that reveals The Stig's true identity in great detail. Upon hearing the judge's decision, HarperCollins issued a press release that definitively reveals his identity.

A strong word of warning: if you prefer to continue enjoying the mystery of The Stig's, er, mysteriousness, I strongly recommend that you do not read the rest of this story after the jump. All complaints about spoilers will be met with scorn and/or ridicule (possibly in that order, depending on how much energy we have at the time).

The man behind the ultraviolet visor is Ben Collins, Quite a shock, isn't it? I can just imagine what you're asking yourself right now. "Who in the hell is Ben Collins?"

Collins has one hell of a gearhead resume. He's not only a professional racer with years of experience behind the wheels of many different types of racing cars, but he's also one of Hollywood's top stunt drivers, having contributed some of the driving scenes for the last James Bond film.

And here's the biggest shocker...he's a NASCAR driver! The man who pretends to be the greatest driver in the history of everything, for a show that spends just about every waking minute trashing the fine American pastime, makes his living making nothing but left turns.

The BBC and the folks at 'Top Gear' are, needless to say, quite cross. Producer Andy Wilman let HarperCollins have the full brunt of his rage on the 'Top Gear' website. He called The Stig "ours."

"The BBC also has the right to spend money on protecting the intellectual property it created, because the truth is that all that stuff – the Stig, the Tardis, the Blue Peter dog – does belong to the licence (sic) payer, and not to some opportunists who think they can come along and take a slice when they feel like it."

Of course, now that the secret's out and the BBC hasn't confirmed or denied the revelation, Collins The Stig may have to find a spot in the unemployment line. BBC insiders said it would be "incredibly difficult" for the show to carry on the persona of The Stig now that the cat is out of the bag. And while it's true that the show won't be the same now that we know there is a human under the helmet, it doesn't have to go away altogether.

Hardcore 'Top Gear' fans will remember last season when the show "revealed" The Stig's true identity after a similar story tried to unmask him/her/it and they still found a way to keep his mystique alive and running. 'Top Gear' is one of the few information shows in news and sports that has a wicked sense of humor about itself and the producers, writers and hosts will find a way to weave around this "Hammerhead." A new Stig will take the wheel and the mystique will remain...until he/she/it decides they want a million dollar book deal too. It's safe to say that the aura of The Stig will have died at that point.