Paul Rees, the former Formula Two and Porsche Supercup driver who portrayed The Stig on Top Gear from 2019 to 2022, has claimed he “nearly died” alongside Freddie Flintoff in the December 2022 crash that brought the BBC series to an end. Rees has spoken publicly for the first time after launching legal action against BBC Studios over the accident at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.
Injuries and legal action
Rees, 41, is seeking more than £100,000 in damages after suffering a fractured back and post-traumatic stress disorder when the Morgan Super 3 overturned during filming. Flintoff, 48, sustained life-changing facial injuries and later reached a reported £9 million settlement with BBC Studios after multiple reconstructive surgeries.
Recalling the incident, Rees told The Sun: “My vision went red. I now know that was blood from Fred spraying me in the face. I remember thinking that if we can get out of this and be in wheelchairs, we're lucky. Everything goes in slow motion. I genuinely felt like we were going to potentially die because we had no protection. I'm used to having four or five-point harnesses, a helmet and a roll hoop. I was acutely aware the only thing holding my head off the tarmac was Fred's head.”
Safety concerns raised
Rees alleges he repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of the open-topped three-wheeler before filming. He claims he urged Flintoff to wear a crash helmet but was told production staff had ruled it out. Following the crash, he said he initially believed the former England cricketer had died. He has also alleged that a single medic on site admitted they were “not equipped” to deal with Flintoff's injuries after the BBC had replaced a full ambulance crew with a lone medical responder.
Rees claims he was later told an ambulance could take up to two hours to arrive, meaning his own injuries were not properly assessed until several hours later. Although initially given the all-clear, Rees said he was later diagnosed with a fractured back and has since developed PTSD. He also claims a BBC executive asked him to “dull down” his account of the accident so the programme could potentially return once Flintoff had recovered.
BBC disputes allegations
BBC Studios strongly disputes the allegations. In court documents, the broadcaster argues that Rees, rather than the production, was responsible for the accident. It alleges he wrongly reassured Flintoff that the Morgan “would not roll” and gave unsafe instructions immediately before the vehicle overturned. The defence also relies on audio recordings from microphones inside the car, which BBC Studios says contradict parts of Rees's account.
A BBC Studios spokesperson told MailOnline: “We dispute this claim and are defending it. As it's now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further.” The Standard has contacted BBC Studios for comment.
Rees is the fourth person to be publicly unmasked as The Stig since the mysterious racing driver first appeared on Top Gear in 2002.
