EUROPEAN stock car racing champion Robert Speak has added a world title title to his name.

After only the second lap, Tyldesley-ite Rob led the 36 cars in the decisive race at Hensford, near Birmingham and there he remained until the finishing line.

Eight times winner of the Formula 2 World Stock Championship and twice winner of the European championship, this is the first time Rob has won the Formula 1 world title.

Now in his second year of Formula 1, this was the biggest race of the season for the 29-year-old who qualified last year only for his engine to blow up in the final after six laps.

He said: "We put a lot of effort into getting the car just right for this year and as this was only the second time I've entered the Formula 1 World Championship, winning it was a marvellous achievement."

Rob works as a mechanic at Hart Street garage in Tyldesley and has always had a massive interest in cars. He has been racing since he was 12 when dad, Billy, also a racer, encouraged him to have a go.

Rob now has the privilege of having a gold roof on his car for the next twelve months to denote he is the world champion.