View source for Perry McCarthy

{{short description|British racing driver (born 1961)}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox F1 driver
| image = 2003 pq paddocks-perry-mccarthy.jpg<!-- Only freely-licensed images may be used to depict living people. See [[WP:NONFREE]]. -->|
| caption = McCarthy in 2003
| name = Perry McCarthy
| nationality = {{flagicon|GBR}} British
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1961|3|3|df=y}} 
| birth_place   = [[Stepney]], [[East London]], England
| Years = {{F1|1992}}
| Team(s) = [[Andrea Moda Formula|Andrea Moda]]
| Races = 10 (0 starts)
| Championships = 0
| Wins = 0
| Podiums = 0
| Points = 0
| Poles = 0
| Fastest laps = 0
| First race = [[1992 Brazilian Grand Prix]]
| First win =
| Last win =
| Last race = [[1992 Italian Grand Prix]]
}}

'''Perry Edward McCarthy''' (born 3 March 1961) is a British [[racing driver]], who drove for the [[Andrea Moda Formula|Andrea Moda]] team in [[Formula One]] in {{F1|1992}}, though never making it into a race, before moving into [[Sportscar racing|sportscars]], including driving in the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]] five times between 1996 and 2003.

McCarthy also portrayed [[The Stig]] in the first two series of the revamped version of BBC motoring show ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]''.

==Career==
Born in [[Stepney]], [[East London]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicanef1.com/indiv.pl?name=Perry%20McCarthy&type=d |title=Perry McCarthy |publisher=ChicaneF1 |access-date=13 September 2014}}</ref> McCarthy grew up to work for his father's company servicing [[North Sea]] [[Oil platform|oil rig]]s. Unlike most [[Formula One]] drivers, McCarthy did not start racing in [[karting|karts]]. He worked his way through the junior categories of motor sport in [[Europe]], such as [[Formula Ford]], [[Formula 3]], eventually [[F3000]] and various touring and sports car races in the US, including drives for [[Spice Engineering]].

In 1991, McCarthy was chosen to test for the [[Footwork Arrows|Footwork]] Formula One team. Although he impressed the team, his break did not come until the eve of the 1992 Formula One season, when he was signed by the independent [[Andrea Moda Formula|Andrea Moda]] team run by Andrea Sassetti who thought that entering Formula One would be a good way to advertise his shoe business. The team was uncompetitive, disorganized and poorly managed, and after a lengthy battle to gain a [[FIA]] [[FIA Super Licence|Super Licence]] the season soon descended into farce.<ref name=Times>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/formula-one/article/dick-dastardly-had-more-luck-than-me-xqpfhz76bl7 |title=Dick Dastardly had more luck than me The Times|access-date=3 May 2015}}</ref> Because Sassetti was unable to release McCarthy for [[Enrico Bertaggia]], who had left the team before and attempted to return with the promise of extra funding, McCarthy received unfair treatment from the owner, being frequently denied more than a handful of laps in which to prepare, which led to his failure to qualify for any Grand Prix, and sometimes his car was used as a spare car for teammate Roberto Moreno. His Grand Prix debut in [[1992 Spanish Grand Prix|Spain]] lasted eighteen metres down the pit lane in pre-qualifying before the engine failed. In the [[1992 British Grand Prix|British Grand Prix]], he was sent out with wet tyres on a dry track. For the [[1992 Hungarian Grand Prix|Hungarian Grand Prix]], he was only allowed to leave the pits 45 seconds before the end of the pre-qualifying session, which made it impossible for him to set a lap time even if he had a faster car. Finally, in the [[1992 Belgian Grand Prix|Belgian Grand Prix]], Andrea Moda's final entry, McCarthy was sent out for the qualifying session with a broken steering part in his car, which had been extracted from teammate [[Roberto Moreno]]'s car, which would have led to a violent crash at the Raidillon curve had McCarthy not managed to regain control of the car. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.adrianflux.co.uk/blog/2022/05/fuelling-around-podcast-perry-mccarthy.html | title=Fuelling Around podcast: Perry McCarthy on being the original Stig and competing in Formula 1 | date=26 May 2022 }}</ref> The team was expelled from the championship  close to the end of the season in controversial circumstances and McCarthy was left without a drive. In a July 2004 interview with ''[[The Times]]'', McCarthy discussed how this period in his career had contributed to his being dubbed the world's unluckiest racing driver, saying "[[Dick Dastardly]] had more luck than me".<ref name=Times />

McCarthy did not race in Formula One after 1992, but tested for both [[WilliamsF1|Williams]] and [[Benetton Formula|Benetton]] teams during the 1990s. He was denied a permanent role as test driver at Benetton because he was covering for their normal test driver, [[Alessandro Zanardi]], who was unwell. He had little success at Williams because he did not see eye to eye with the engineers and the position was then given to [[David Coulthard]].

===Other racing===

In 1995, McCarthy raced in the short-lived Formula Classic series, scoring two podiums.<ref>https://forums.autosport.com/topic/218051-wheatcroft-formula-classic/</ref><ref>https://www.unracedf1.com/it-took-seven-holbay-engines-to-ruin-wheatcrofts-formula-classic/</ref>

===''Top Gear''===
After a brief retirement, McCarthy returned to sports car racing, appearing at [[24 Hours of Le Mans|Le Mans]] in 2002 and numerous other events. In 2002, he released his autobiography entitled ''Flat Out, Flat Broke'', in which he spoke candidly about his time in Formula One and, in the second edition, his work for the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Top Gear (current format)|Top Gear]]'' motoring show as [[The Stig]], a masked, anonymous, racing driver who evaluated the latest high performance cars.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-11083602 | work=BBC News | title=Perry McCarthy: 'I was the original Stig' | date=25 August 2010}}</ref> McCarthy was the original, black-suited Stig, who left after the first two series. He provided commentary on F1 races for the BBC in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/pressred/2009/03/whats-on-bbc-red-button-28-mar.shtml|title=BBC - Press Red Blog: What's On BBC Red Button (28 March - 10 April)|first=John|last=Horth|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref> McCarthy now works as a corporate ambassador and after-dinner speaker for corporations around the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perrymccarthy.co.uk|title=Perry McCarthy - The Original Stig From Top Gear|website=Perrymccarthy.co.uk|access-date=16 September 2018}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
In 2002, McCarthy wrote an autobiography, titled ''Flat Out, Flat Broke: Formula 1 the Hard Way!''; it detailed his career, and the hardships he faced while trying to break into [[Formula One]]. In the second edition of this book, McCarthy revealed that he was ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]''{{'}}s [[The Stig]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Portrait of a driver: Perry McCarthy|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/2728147/Portrait-of-a-driver-Perry-McCarthy.html|website=The Telegraph|access-date=26 January 2013|location=London|date=8 May 2004}}</ref>

==Racing record==
===Complete International Formula 3000 results===
([[:Template:Motorsport driver results legend|key]])
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Year
! Entrant
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! DC
! Points
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[1988 International Formula 3000 Championship|1988]]
! nowrap| GA Motorsports
| [[Circuito Permanente de Jerez|JER]]
| [[ACI Vallelunga Circuit|VAL]]
| [[Pau Grand Prix|PAU]]
| [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]]
| [[Autodromo Nazionale Monza|MNZ]]
| [[Autodromo di Pergusa|PER]]
| [[Brands Hatch|BRH]]
|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [[Birmingham Superprix|BIR]]<br />{{small|DNQ}}
|colspan=3|
!rowspan="2"|  NC
!rowspan="2"|  0
|-
! nowrap| [[Ralt|Team Ralt]]
|colspan=8|
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Bugatti Circuit|BUG]]<br>{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| [[Zolder|ZOL]]<br />{{small|Ret}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Dijon-Prenois|DIJ]]<br />{{small|16}}
|-
| [[1989 International Formula 3000 Championship|1989]]
! nowrap| Cowman Racing
| [[Silverstone Circuit|SIL]]
| [[ACI Vallelunga Circuit|VAL]]
| [[Pau Grand Prix|PAU]]
| [[Circuito de Jerez|JER]]
| [[Autodromo di Pergusa|PER]]
| [[Brands Hatch|BRH]]
|style="background:#ffcfcf;"| [[Birmingham Superprix|BIR]]<br>{{small|DNQ}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps|SPA]]<br>{{small|7}}
|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| [[Bugatti Circuit|BUG]]<br>{{small|15}}
| [[Dijon-Prenois|DIJ]]
|
! NC
! 0
|-
!colspan="15"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref name=MSportStats>{{cite web|title=Perry McCarthy Results|url=https://www.motorsportstats.com/driver/perry-mccarthy/results|publisher=Motorsport Stats|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref><ref name=MSportMagResults>{{cite web|title=Perry McCarthy|url=https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/database/drivers/perry-mccarthy/|work=[[Motor Sport (magazine)|Motor Sport]]|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}}}}
|}

===Complete Formula One results===
([[:Template:F1 driver results legend 2|key]])
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%"
! Yr
! Entrant
! Chassis
! Engine
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! 9
! 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
! WDC
! Points
|-
| {{F1|1992}}
! nowrap| [[Andrea Moda Formula]]
! nowrap| [[Andrea Moda Formula|Andrea Moda]] [[Andrea Moda S921|S921]]
! nowrap| [[Judd (engine)|Judd]] [[V10 engine|V10]]
| [[1992 South African Grand Prix|RSA]]
| [[1992 Mexican Grand Prix|MEX]]
| [[1992 Brazilian Grand Prix|BRA]]<br />{{small|DNP}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1992 Spanish Grand Prix|ESP]]<br />{{small|DNPQ}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1992 San Marino Grand Prix|SMR]]<br />{{small|DNPQ}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1992 Monaco Grand Prix|MON]]<br />{{small|DNPQ}}
| [[1992 Canadian Grand Prix|CAN]]<br />{{small|DNP}}
| [[1992 French Grand Prix|FRA]]<br /><small>DNA</small>
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1992 British Grand Prix|GBR]]<br />{{small|DNPQ}}
| [[1992 German Grand Prix|GER]]<br />{{small|EX}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1992 Hungarian Grand Prix|HUN]]<br />{{small|DNPQ}}
|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| [[1992 Belgian Grand Prix|BEL]]<br />{{small|DNQ}}
| [[1992 Italian Grand Prix|ITA]]<br />{{small|DNP}}
| [[1992 Portuguese Grand Prix|POR]]
| [[1992 Japanese Grand Prix|JPN]]
| [[1992 Australian Grand Prix|AUS]]
! NC
! 0
|-
!colspan="22"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref name=MSportMagResults/><ref>{{cite book|last=Small|first=Steve|title=Grand Prix Who's Who|chapter=Non-Starters|url=https://archive.org/details/grandprixwhoswho0000smal|year=2000|edition=Third|publisher=Travel Publishing|location=Reading, Berkshire|page=621|access-date=7 August 2023|isbn=978-1-902007-46-5|url-access=registration|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>}}}}
|}

===Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%"
|-
! Year
! Team
! Co-Drivers
! Car
! Class
! Laps
! {{Tooltip|Pos.|Overall Position}}
! {{Tooltip|Class<br>Pos.|Class Position}}
|-
! {{24hLM|1996}}
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dodge Viper|Viper]] [[Team Oreca]]
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Dominique Dupuy]]<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Justin Bell]]
|align="left" nowrap| [[Chrysler Viper GTS-R]]
| GT1
| 96
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! {{24hLM|1997}}
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[David Price Racing]]
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|AUS}} [[David Brabham]]<br>{{flagicon|USA}} [[Doc Bundy]]
|align="left" nowrap| [[Panoz Esperante GTR-1]]
| GT1
| 145
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! {{24hLM|1999}}
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Audi Sport]] UK Ltd.
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[James Weaver (racing driver)|James Weaver]]<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Andy Wallace (racing driver)|Andy Wallace]]
|align="left" nowrap| [[Audi R8C]]
| LMGTP
| 198
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! {{24hLM|2002}}
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[DAMS]]
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Jérôme Policand]]<br>{{flagicon|BEL}} [[Marc Duez]]
|align="left" nowrap| [[Panoz LMP-1 Roadster-S]]
| LMP900
| 98
| DNF
| DNF
|-
! {{24hLM|2003}}
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|GBR}} [[Audi Sport]] UK<br>{{flagicon|GBR}} [[Arena Motorsport]]
|align="left" nowrap| {{flagicon|DEU}} [[Frank Biela]]<br>{{flagicon|FIN}} [[Mika Salo]]
|align="left" nowrap| [[Audi R8 (LMP)|Audi R8]]
| LMP900
| 28
| DNF
| DNF
|-
!colspan="8"|{{center|{{small|Sources:<ref name=MSportStats/><ref>{{cite web|title=Perry McCarthy|url=https://www.24h-lemans.com/en/track-record/driver/perry-mccarthy-5030|publisher=[[Automobile Club de l'Ouest]]|access-date=8 August 2023}}</ref>}}}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-media}}
|-
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[The Stig]]|years=2002 - 2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Ben Collins (racing driver)|Ben Collins]]<br><small>As White Stig</small>}}
{{s-end}}
{{Andrea Moda Formula}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCarthy, Perry}}
[[Category:English racing drivers]]
[[Category:English Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:International Formula 3000 drivers]]
[[Category:British Formula 3000 Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Andrea Moda Formula One drivers]]
[[Category:24 Hours of Le Mans drivers]]
[[Category:American Le Mans Series drivers]]
[[Category:World Sportscar Championship drivers]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Essex]]
[[Category:Porsche Carrera Cup GB drivers]]
[[Category:Oreca drivers]]
[[Category:DAMS drivers]]
[[Category:Arena Motorsport drivers]]
[[Category:David Price Racing drivers]]
[[Category:Audi Sport drivers]]
[[Category:People from Stepney]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]