Some say that it was a publicity stunt, and that the BBC almost broke its own guidelines by allowing a guest to plug a brand of rum. All we know is: Top Gear has claimed that Michael Schumacher is The Stig.

The corporation pretended that it would finally end speculation about the identity of the mysterious test driver who puts cars through their paces for the programme by claiming that the real Stig would be unmasked.

But in the event it was a stunt to allow Michael Schumacher, the former Formula One champion, to give publicity for Bacardi, which pays him to raise its profile.

The segment, broadcast at 8.30pm on BBC Two, showed the driver breaking the lap record for vehicles on the Top Gear track while driving a Ferrari FXX. Schumacher broke the previous record, set by a Gumpert Apollo, by almost seven seconds as he crossed the finishing line in 1 minute and 10.7 seconds.

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• Identity of Top Gear's The Stig revealed

He was introduced in the customary style by Jeremy Clarkson, one of the presenters, who made joke claims about The Stig. “Some say that he invented the curtain, and that he recently submitted a £20,000 expenses claim for some gravel for his moat... All we know is: He’s called The Stig.”

The real identity of The Stig is widely believed to be Ben Collins, a stunt driver who acted as a double for Daniel Craig in the driving scenes in Quantum of Solace, the most recent Bond film. He lives in Bristol.

Clarkson said that The Stig, whose nickname is the word used for new boys at Repton, the minor public school attended by Clarkson, wished to unmask himself to quash speculation over his identity. “He’s been fed up with newspapers speculating that he’s a photocopier salesman from Bolton, or lives in a pebble-dashed house in Bristol,” he said.

When Schumacher took off his helmet, Clarkson questioned him on whether the joke rumours about him were true. “Are you illegal in 17 US states?” he asked.

Schumacher replied: “Only nine.”

Clarkson also wondered whether it was true that he only knew two facts about ducks, and that both were wrong. Schumacher, in an answer that may have been scripted, said: “Well, obviously they don’t fly.”

Footage at the end of the programme showed Schumacher driving ineptly around the track, causing Clarkson to comment: “You know what? I don’t think that Michael Schumacher is The Stig.”

The first person to take on the mantle of The Stig was Perry McCarthy, a former Formula One driver for the Andrea Moda team. He appeared in 22 episodes of the programme, which was relaunched in 2002, but was replaced during the third series after he fell out with producers.

Other drivers to act as The Stig include Julian Bailey, a former Formula One driver for Tyrell, who stood in for McCarthy. It is believed that at least four people have appeared on the programme in the role.