A SOUTH coast van sales manager has landed a coveted award from Mercedes-Benz - after his first full year in the job!

Former British Airways steward Barrie Rawlins proved he's still a high flyer by beating off the challenge of counterparts from 21 other franchised dealerships nationwide to win the Mercedes-Benz Van Sales Manager of the Year title.

The 52-year-old works for Pentagon, the Mercedes-Benz truck and van dealer for Hampshire and Dorset. He received his trophy from Mercedes-Benz van sales & marketing director Peter Lambert, at an awards ceremony in Switzerland.

Barrie heads a seven-strong team of van sales specialists who are based at the company's headquarters in Fareham, its dedicated Van Sales Centre in Spicers Hill, Totton, and at other Pentagon outlets in Poole and Andover.

He quit his life in the skies for the motor industry in 1995 and worked for two French manufacturers before joining Pentagon in 2000 as a van sales executive. He was promoted to van sales manager in July, 2003.

Under Barrie's leadership Pentagon's van sales team enjoyed a spectacular 2004, smashing all of their targets and selling more than 800 Mercedes Sprinter and Vito vans to fleet and retail customers.

The prospects are looking good for this year too, following the announcement that the new Vito has won the prestigious International Van of the Year Award for 2005.

"I was surprised even to be nominated and staggered when I won, especially when I saw the competition I was up against," admits Barrie, who lives in Fontwell, near Arundel, with his wife and two sons.

"What is particularly gratifying is that although sales performance is an important elements in the judges' decision, it is not the only one. Some dealers are based in the big cities and will always outsell us.

"But where I like to think that we really score is in the quality of our customer care, and our staff recruitment and development policies. Mercedes-Benz also takes account of these and other factors, and that's why I've been able to bring this prestigious trophy back to the south coast."

Pentagon is responsible for sales and after sales support of the most comprehensive commercial vehicle line-up on the market, ranging from the Vito to the mighty Mercedes Actros family of articulated tractor units and heavy-duty rigid trucks, which won the International Truck of the Year title in 2004. It also retails the Mitsubishi Canter light truck range.

Pentagon has enjoyed a boom in sales over recent years, while an unstinting commitment to service has ensured that its vehicle repair and maintenance operation - including its round-the-clock Service 24h roadside rescue and recovery provision - and parts back-up rank with the very best in the industry.