Leicestershire man wins £165,000 supercar in £20 spot-the-ball competition {{favouriteCount}}

A Leicestershire petrolhead has won a £165,000 supercar and £20,000 in cash in a £20 spot-the-ball competition.

Philip Bodycote from Shepshed, won a Bentley Continental GT and a suitcase full of cash this week.

The 45-year-old has been playing the spot-the-ball competition with BOTB since it began in 1999.

Mr Bodycote was told of his win at a hotel.

When a BOTB representative told him he he had won the Bentley he was stunned.

He said: “What do I say to that? Thank you.

“I’m just completely gobsmacked.”

BOTB run the national competition where entrants pay amounts ranging from 90p to £20 to play a weekly spot-the-ball competition to win a range of up to 180 cars.

The more expensive the ticket the more expensive the car that can be won.

Mr Bodycote sat in a Bentley Continental GT to try it out for size.

He then celebrated with a pint of Guinness in the hotel bar.

BOTB has been running the competition since 1999 and there have been more than 400 winners of dream cars.

Mr Bodycote said: “I see the winner’s video every week and I always say ‘if I win I’ll be different’ but when it happens to you it turns you into a nervous wreck.

“My friend Lee was in on the surprise but I can’t believe he didn’t spill the beans.”

“Lee had been a bit funny all evening so I wondered what was wrong with him.

“I had my back to Christian (the BOTB representative) but I recognised him as soon as I turned round.

“I gave him the trademark hug, naturally, but I was shaking like a leaf when I went to see the car.”

Christian Williams, who delivered the good news, said although Philip was speechless he was a thoroughly worthy winner.

The BOTB representative said: “Handing people the keys to their dream car is a real privilege.

“Everyone who plays BOTB crosses their fingers that they’ll get the knock on the door and today it was Philip’s turn. “Given he’s been playing since the very start he’s definitely earned it.”

BOTB was founded by William Hindmarch in 1999 and has handed over the keys to more than £22m worth of supercars.

Back to Homepage 22 Nov 2021