You'd think it would be difficult to control a vehicle without all your limbs - but after losing his right arm, Gareth Almond went on to set up the Bulldog Spirit driving school, and became Britain's most successful disabled motor sport competitor.

Alex Eckford caught up with Gareth, Britain's only amputee driving instructor,  to ask him about his career in motor sport, his driving school, and why his family have been motor sport enthusiasts since before they could crawl.</b>

In 1973 Gareth Almond lost his arm in a motorcycle accident. As he lay in his hospital bed, he wondered if he would ever be able to come to terms with the loss of his arm.

"After the accident I thought 'do I lie down, or do I get up and do something about it?' I believe you have to be determined." says Gareth.

Forced to give up his career in the police force, Gareth eventually moved into the financial sector, and in 1979, began competing in motor sport events across the UK.

Over the next two decades he went on to win more than 250 races, often competing against able bodied drivers at national level.

"I love racing Land Rovers - I've always had them since I started competing and wouldn't use anything else. I use a turbo-charged model for extreme rallying," says Gareth.

In 2005 Gareth gave up his job to set up the Bulldog Spirit Driving School from his home in Barnoldswick, near Clitheroe in Lancashire.

"I'd had a job in the finance industry for twenty years, and decided it was time to break out on my own - doing something totally different," says Gareth.

"The name sums up my philosophy. I wanted to prove to people what you can achieve if you put your mind to it."

But the path to becoming a licensed driving instructor wasn't entirely smooth.

"It was difficult at times - there were a number of obstacles placed in my path. But I was able to show the DVLA that I was capable of being in control of my vehicle at all times," says Gareth.

After less than a year in business, Gareth picked up the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award from his local radio station 2BR.

In recent years Gareth decided to spend less time on the race track and go into semi-retirement - a decision members of his family were keen to reverse.

"Steven, my oldest son and a qualified Land Rover mechanic, pushed me back into it. He was the one who convinced me I had to get back into racing," says Gareth.

Gareth is particularly proud of his sons - and the fact that they are all motor sport enthusiasts.

"Steven has been coming with me to the races since he was four years old," says Gareth.

"All three of my sons are into motoring in one way or another. Ross, my youngest, has been coming to races with me since he was twelve weeks old!"

Want to know more about Gareth's driving school? Visit bulldog-spirit.com.