Phil wins dream car... just months after his best mate won one too! {{favouriteCount}}

A RETIRED fireman has been presented with a top of the range ‘supercar’ after winning a national competition.

Phil Wakefield, of Derby Road, was handed the keys to a Vauxhall VXR8 GTS, worth an impressive £53,000 – as well as £10k in hard cash – after entering a national competition by airport car competition firm, Best Of the Best.

After he popped the champagne corks, the 58-year-old toasted his friend who had encouraged him to play the competition in the first place.

“It’s all thanks to my friend Nick Anders,” beamed Phil, who also won £10,000 in cash!

“When he won a Mercedes last year he told me to start playing.

“I was always dubious about these sorts of competitions and although I’d seen BOTB at the airport I didn’t realise you could play online.

“Well, I definitely got the bug and although my wife doesn’t know I’ve been playing, she was delighted when I rang her to say we’d won. I don’t think she’ll be that bothered about the car but the cash will definitely appeal!”

BOTB was founded by William Hindmarch in 1999 and has handed over the keys to more than £20m worth of supercars.

Listed on the stock market, BOTB has high-profile stands at airports and in Britain’s biggest shopping centres, with 70% of all people playing online at BOTB.com.

Phil says the money will be spent on upgrading their cabin for the next time they head off on a cruise.

“I’ve been retired for three years now and loving every minute,” Phil explained.

“We love going on cruises and taking life at a slower pace so this money will definitely help.

“Of course, the car is a monster and with the V8 under the bonnet I’m not sure it’s possible to go at a slower pace, so maybe we’ll have the best of both worlds.”

Christian Williams, who handed Phil the keys to the car said it was amazing that two best friends had won cars just nine months apart.

“I reckon I have one of the best jobs in the world, handing people the keys to their dream car,” said Christian.

“But when you see how much it means to guys like Phil, that’s when you realise how life-changing it can be.”