Former formula one star Michael Schumacher is the man behind the mysterious white helmet of The Stig, Top Gear presenters have claimed.

The identity of the BBC2 show's iconic test driver has long been a subject for speculation, with the Daily Mail newspaper claiming earlier this year that stunt driver Ben Collins was the regular Stig.

But seven-time formula one world champion Schumacher was "revealed" as The Stig on the first episode of the new series of Top Gear on Sunday night.

Presenter Jeremy Clarkson had earlier told readers of his column in the Sun newspaper that the identity of The Stig would be a "staggering surprise" to viewers.

"As a television moment, it's up there with Neil Armstrong walking on the... corpse of JR Ewing," he added.

Earlier, a BBC spokesman had said: "As Jeremy said, in tonight's Top Gear, Stig will remove his helmet for the first time."

After The Stig was shown breaking the Top Gear test lap record by almost seven seconds in a Ferrari FXX, the white helmeted-driver entered the show studio and after being egged on by the crowd, removed his crash helmet to reveal he was Michael Schumacher.

However, footage purportedly showing Schumacher driving poorly around the programme's regular test circuit in a family saloon car saw Clarkson tell viewers at the end of the show: "You know what? I don't think Michael Schumacher is The Stig."

The interview segment between Clarkson and Schumacher also saw the German driver plug a Bacardi publicity campaign to promote drink-driving awareness, adding weight to doubts that Schumacher really is the full-time Stig.

A BBC spokesman refused to confirm whether or not the ex-Ferrari man was the regular Stig, but added: "You have to bear in mind that Top Gear is an entertainment programme."