Never mind Nessie: Mysterious Stig captured in rare sighting on the banks of famous loch... by Google Street View
Last updated at 1:58 PM on 25th January 2010

Top Gear's mystery racing driver The Stig has been caught on camera by Google's Street View - on the banks of Loch Ness.

The cult character from hit BBC2 motoring series was spotted on the mapping website standing next to the Scottish lake made famous by claims of an elusive monster lurking in the deep.

Michael Booth, 36, from Middlesborough, was first to make the sighting of the white-clad 'tamed racing driver', whose real identity is surrounded by almost as much legend and speculation as Nessie itself.

He said: 'He didn't have his helmet off, or one Loch Ness mystery might have been solved.'

The Stig himself does not appear to be interested in searching for the monster as he stands with his back to the loch as traffic whizzes past on the A82.

Last week it was reported that The Stig had also been captured by Street View's car-mounted cameras in London.

A figure wearing his trademark white overalls and helmet could be seen through the windows of the BBC's offices in one picture on the site.

Images are captured by Google's fleet of cars to provide a street-level 360-degree view of cities across Britain and around the world.

The Stig's identity has never been revealed, although ex-Formula One champions Damon Hill and Michael Schumacher are among those rumoured to be the face behind the visor.

It is thought the Loch Ness sighting could be a stunt for a Where's Stig? book.