James Pickford became the first man to drive a racing car over the Forth Road Bridge when he steered his SEAT Toledo Cupra over one of Scotland’s best-known landmarks. It was a great honour – and one which came at a price, for he also had to pay the £1 toll charge!

The 26-year old Macclesfield driver is in Scotland for this weekend’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship meeting at Knockhill. Having scored his first BTCC podium result last time out at Snetterton, James hopes to continue his good run in Sunday’s SEAT Race Day, where he’ll race the Toledo Cupra on one of the UK’s most spectacular circuits.

Pickford said: “I love racing at Knockhill because it’s such a fantastic circuit and every year we have to drive over the Forth Road Bridge to reach the track. Going over the Forth Estuary in a road car is pretty spectacular and it was very special to do it in my racing car. I’ve been looking forward to the PR stunt ever since it was first mentioned to me and it was quite an honour to be the first person to drive a racing car over the bridge. It’s not easy getting money out of your racing overalls when you’re strapped into a racing seat and surrounded by a roll cage; racing driver’s aren’t known for paying for things, so I hope I haven’t started a new trend!”