A BLACKPOOL speed demon is on the road to success in a driving competition - despite having had no racing experience.

Nigel Walker, from Penhill Close, North Shore, has surpassed his wildest dreams in the 1999 Vauxall Vectra Scholarship- his latest time trial, on September 29, secured a place in the final of the competition in December at the North Yorkshire Crost racing circuit.

And if Nigel, 23, wins the event his prize is a Vauxhall Vectra to race in the next step, the Vauxhall Vectra SRi V6 Challenge - a stepping stone to driving the Vectra in the Touring Car Championship.

However Nigel, a security guard with Statestrong, Lytham, has to raise £18,000 to pay for racing costs and is appealing for local businesses to help.

He said: "I've always been interested in motor racing and I saw the event advertised in a magazine.

"I'd never done any racing before and had nothing to lose. The first day I went to race I was thinking it would just be nice to sit in the Vectra, never mind drive it.

"But I've ended up doing really well. In the wet I'm a full two seconds quicker than other people, some of whom have been racing for years all over Europe.

"Getting the offers to drive the Vauxhall Vectra has been magnificent. But I need £18,000 because there's lots of things I need to pay for, such as insurance and damage if I have a bad crash.

"I'm jumping into a series I shouldn't really be jumping into. I should be starting at the bottom, but I'm possibly only one step away from the Touring Car Championship.

"But if I get my international racing licence I've had an offer to drive for Californian-based company Borla in the Busch series.

"But in the meantime I'm enjoying this competition."

If your company can help Nigel call him on (0410) 413684.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.