ISP PlusNet has reported a significant increase in demand among its users for BBC's iPlayer service in the wake of Top Gear's latest show.

Last Sunday (June 20th), Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond embarked on a 1949-themed Race to the North featuring Clarkson shoveling coal aboard a brand new mainline steam locomotive, May in a Jaguar XK120 and Hammond riding a Vincent Black Shadow motorbike.

However, it was the 'unveiling' of The Stig, Top Gear's mystery racing driver, that is likely to have attracted broadband users to log on and set a PlusNet iPlayer record.

The driver was revealed as Michael Schumacher, although the closing credits suggested that this may just have been a Top Gear stunt.

Either way, Dave Tomlinson, writing on PlusNet's community blog, notes the programme seems to have attracted the attention of Top Gear fans with broadband internet.

"Certainly the potential reveal has caused people to tune in to Top Gear in droves and the convenience of iPlayer has meant that many can enjoy an extra hour or two out in the evening sun on the longest day of the year," he commented.

"So many, in fact, it's set a new PlusNet iPlayer record with 1.31Gbps of iPlayer streaming traffic being hit between 22:00 and 23:00 this [Sunday] evening."