Perry McCarthy

F1 Driver, Bestselling Author, The Original Stig from Top Gear
Perry
McCarthy

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AVAILABLE FOR

Keynote
Virtual Presentation

Fee ranges

Domestic In-Person (USA):

$40,001 - $50,000*

International In-Person:

$40,001 - $50,000*

Virtual:

Please inquire

Other:

* Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees vary by engagement type and are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact Gravity Speakers.

Traveling from

London, United Kingdom

About

Perry McCarthy is a former Formula One driver, bestselling author, and the original Stig from BBC’s Top Gear. From North Sea oil rigs to the world’s fastest racetracks, Perry has built a career on grit, risk-taking, and finding a way forward when every door appears shut. With over 1,500 keynote appearances around the globe, he is one of the most in-demand motivational speakers for organizations looking to energize teams, inspire bold thinking, and drive high performance under pressure.

Born in East London and with no family ties to motorsport, Perry didn’t begin driving until age 21. To fund his racing ambitions, he took 14-hour shifts working on oil rigs in the North Sea. Against all odds—and after trading his house for three races in an underperforming Formula 2 car—he caught the attention of racing decision-makers. That gamble paid off, launching him onto the Formula One grid with Andrea Moda, despite the team’s notorious lack of reliability and resources.

After Formula One, Perry raced at Le Mans and competed in Formula Classic and other major championships. His racing journey was marked by challenges, including financial instability and technical setbacks, but his perseverance and humor made him a favorite among fans and fellow drivers alike. In 2002, he accepted a call from Jeremy Clarkson to become the anonymous black-suited test driver on Top Gear. As the original Stig, Perry became a cultural icon and helped propel the show into a global phenomenon seen in more than 215 countries.

Outside of racing, Perry is the author of Flat Out, Flat Broke, widely regarded as one of motorsport’s most compelling autobiographies. Blending dry British wit with unfiltered honesty, the book shares his extraordinary career, the failures and victories along the way, and the mindset required to push forward in the face of overwhelming adversity. It remains a bestseller and is frequently cited in motorsport media as a must-read for fans of racing and resilience alike.

Today, Perry brings his story to life for audiences far beyond the racing world. His keynotes focus on themes of overcoming adversity, high-stakes decision-making, teamwork, and outlasting the competition through mindset and attitude. With real-world lessons drawn from one of the most unforgiving environments imaginable, he helps professionals in every industry rethink how they approach risk, leadership, and personal growth. Perry McCarthy doesn’t just talk about beating the odds—he’s done it, and he teaches others how to do it too.

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Topics

Topics

Beat the Odds: How to Create Opportunity When The Door Is Slammed Shut

High-Performance Under Pressure

The Real Power Of Teamwork (And How I Got It Wrong)

Outperforming Your Environment

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCHZSvPB5CU
Perry McCarthy Introduces His Motor Racing Bestselling Book Flat Out Flat Broke
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDKqYuFmnlg
Perry McCarthy - The Original Stig On BBC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STmJMPydNKs
"Fan Questions" Segment: The Original Stig Perry McCarthy

Books / Movies As an Amazon Associate, Gravity earns from qualifying purchases.

Testimonials

“Perry’s talks never fail to impress, amuse and delight the audience … is there no end to this man’s library of tales?”

Graeme Taylor, Marketing Manager
Bang & Olufsen

“With Perry you can always guarantee that your guests are going to have a fun time. His ability to grab everyone’s attention and make them laugh has ensured that we book him on a regular basis.”

David Ingram - PR Manager
Audi

“Very entertaining speech by Perry. Great that he used short stories to entertain. Much appreciated and would recommend him for future work.”

HBOS PLC

“Perry was a first class choice in communicating our findings and message, and was able to deliver in an entertaining and informative way to our target of 20 UK radio stations in one day”

BRIDGESTONE

“ING used Perry extensively during our inaugural year as a Formula One sponsor to help provide an insight for both our media guests and key clients.

Perry's natural blend of knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm, coupled with humour and an engaging style enabled him to put complex subjects across easily and succinctly to a non-expert audience. He was a popular hit with clients and media, whether public speaking to large groups, or giving technical explanations on a one-on-one basis.

Perry was subsequently adopted by other business areas within the ING group, such as ING Life Insurance Russia and ING Real Estate in Holland, to successfully promote individual events and campaigns.”

Jon Tracey. PR Director
ING F1 Sponsorship Programme