Weather adds spice to Wrexham's 'Nutty Driver of the Year' competition

THE wet weather added an extra element of unpredictability to an off-road competition which celebrates madcap motoring.

The fifth annual Nutty Driver of the Year competition was held in Halton, near Chirk, with five daredevil 4x4 drivers taking on the challenge of an off-road course with plenty of thrills and spills.

The aim of the contest was to wow an assembled group of spectators with a variety of manoeuvres on a huge obstacle course.

This year’s event had been switched from summer to last weekend in order to minimise damage to the vehicles, due to the ground being softer in the winter months.

Competitors, however, were taken by surprise by the torrential rain.

Organiser Stuart Walker, of Ultra Venture Driving, said: “It’s an unusual competition - people win through their skilled driving, and are judged by the reception they get from the audience.

“It was very, very wet, which made it very, very difficult to run the event, because there was so much water getting into the engines and the course was slippery.

“We managed to battle through it though - we’ll have to decide whether to hold the event
in summer or winter next year.”

Mark Philpotts, of Gobowen, was named winner, with Steve Oliver and Les Butler second and third respectively.