Paul Rees, known for portraying the silent racing driver "The Stig" on the BBC series Top Gear, has filed a lawsuit against the broadcaster seeking £100,000 in damages related to a crash during filming in 2022. Rees was a passenger in a three-wheeled Morgan Super 3 sports car driven by former professional cricketer Freddie Flintoff when the vehicle flipped at Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

The incident, which had previously been reported primarily in relation to Flintoff, has now revealed that Rees was also involved and sustained serious injuries. Rees claims to have suffered an undiagnosed broken back and post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of the crash. His lawsuit contends that the BBC disregarded his lack of experience operating the three-wheeled vehicle prior to filming.

Rees, who played The Stig on the show from 2019 until production was halted after the accident, has criticised the BBC for placing responsibility for ensuring Flintoff’s safety on him. According to Rees, he told Flintoff before the filming began that he was uncomfortable and outside his familiarity zone, saying, “We really don’t want to roll this, Fred ... I don’t know anything about this car.” He further noted that he had never driven a three-wheeled vehicle before the shoot.

Flintoff, responding to the ongoing controversy, expressed frustration with the BBC for reportedly undermining his position by assigning safety duties to him during the shoot. The former Formula 2 driver emphasised his concerns about the vehicle's handling and implicit risks involved.

A BBC Studios spokesperson stated that the corporation disputes the claims made by Rees and confirmed that it is contesting the matter in court. The spokesperson declined to provide further comment, citing the ongoing legal proceedings.