The former Top Gear Stig has driven hundreds of supercars, but one Ferrari remains his absolute favorite

For several years, Ben Collins, known for playing the Stig in Top Gear, has driven some of the world's greatest sports cars. Over the course of his career, he has driven numerous Ferrari, from naturally aspirated V8 models to the latest-generation hybrids. When asked which one made the biggest impression on him, his answer is clear.

The Ferrari 458 Italia at the Top

According to Ben Collins, the Ferrari 458 Italia represents one of the pinnacles achieved by the Maranello-based automaker. He explains that this sports car offered an exceptional balance of power, precision, and driving pleasure. From the very first few laps, it inspired confidence thanks to a perfectly tuned chassis and particularly intuitive handling. In his view, the 458 was a car that was immediately polished, easy to drive, and capable of delivering top-tier performance. It is this well-rounded nature that sets it apart from many other supercars of its era.

Ferrari, a brand that knows how to make performance accessible

Beyond the 458 Italia, Ben Collins is generally very complimentary of Ferrari. He believes the Italian brand possesses genuine expertise in designing extremely fast cars that remain predictable and easy to drive at the limit. The former Stig points out that Ferrari often manages to strike a balance between efficiency and driving excitement, which explains why models from Maranello are regularly among the benchmarks when it comes to evaluating a new sports car.

Modern Ferraris find favor in his eyes

Ben Collins isn't nostalgic just for the sake of it. He acknowledges that the most recent Ferraris, including those equipped with turbocharged V6 engines like the Ferrari 296 GTB, continue to deliver impressive performance. He particularly praises the work done by the engineers in Maranello on these modern powertrains, which he considers particularly successful despite the constraints imposed by current regulations.

Although the naturally aspirated V8 in the 458 Italia remains his favorite, he believes that Ferrari continues to produce cars capable of delivering a first-rate driving experience.