Something happened on last night’s Top Gear that may just upset the balance of the universe. If you haven’t watched it, and don’t want to have the surprise spoiled, then don’t click through. On the other hand, if you’re curious about just how Earth-shattering it was, let’s go.
Jezza sat down with Williams F1 driver, Rubens Barrichello – he of the fourth highest points total in F1 history. After some typical Clarkson banter about what they call a “brazilian” in Brazil, he got down to the meat and potatoes of why Barrichello was there. The Top Gear folks put Barrichello in their old reasonably priced car (not the new one, as they wanted him to compete against the previous F1 drivers who had been on the show) and set him loose on the track.

The track record in the little Suzuki has, for time immortal (well, ever since they got that car), been a 1.44.4 lap set be the Stig. Nigel Mansell tickled that record with a 1.44.6 time, but the Stig has remained atop the board despite Mansell’s attempt, as well as those by Lewis Hamilton, and others.
Barrichello looked impressively smooth on his lap, going deep into the corners and using the Suzuki’s small size to his advantage. Typically when a driver passes by the tires, they come with in inches of the wall, arcing wide through the curve. Rubens instead took an inside line that cut a shorter distance, and lowered his time.
And what a time that was. . .

At the end, Barrichello managed an F1-typical lap that seemed both fast and effortless. There was nothing dramatic to it, and he even crossed the finish line mid-track rather than the bouncing two-wheels on grass attack of many who try to go fast. That smooth but fast effort worked because Rubens was fast. How fast?  Well, he was so fast, that now the Stig needs a new driving suit after having watched the lap. Barrichello did it in a Stig-beating 1.44.3. Maybe it was his brazilian?