A unique number plate bearing the letters and numbers 'THE 571G' has sold for more than 26 times its reserve price at over ?10,000 to a fan of popular BBC motoring programme Top Gear.

The enigmatic Stig has been played by a number of different people over his lifetime, with former grand prix driver Perry McCarthy assuming the mantle for a lengthy period, and double world champion Fernando Alonso remarking earlier this year that whoever the mysterious Stig is, he 'is a seriously good driver, definitely ex-F1' [see separate story - 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:click here].

Now, the registration plate - which had an initial reserve price of just ?400 - has been sold under the hammer for ?10,690 to Top Gear enthusiast and London car dealer Rick Fusari during the DVLA Personalised Registrat✅ions' three-day auction held at the Haycock 🌳Hotel in Wansford, Cambridgeshire.

"Like all motoring enthusiasts I'm a fan of Top Gear," the 45-year-old Ferrari owner confirmed. "Ironically, my mum always says she can't stand 'that man' ♚Jeremy Clarkson, but that won't stop me going out and buying a white crash helmet!"

"We had more than a dozen people chasing the 'THE 571G' registration," added Damian Lawson, marketing manager for DVLA💫 Personalised Registrations. "There we were thinking there was only one Stig, but now we're not so sure..."