A RACING mechanic from Bitterne has whizzed his way to the gold in two international banger racing competitions, writes Tom Husband.

Mark Simmons scooped first place in the World Figure of Eight and the Round Track Championships, both at Wimbledon Arena in London.

The car enthusiast is the only person to win both titles in the same year.

In the Figure of Eight match he beat off competition from 44 cars representing Belgium, Holland, Germany and the US.

"I'm over the moon," he said, £1,500 richer and clutching two trophies. "To be a double world champion is a quite a surprising thing."

He shot to victory in a Mark II Ford Granada with a 2.8-litre V6 engine and the inside of the car stripped to racing trim.

After the race the organisers - Spedeworth International of Alton - called a free-for-all in which Mark's car got nudged more than once as the other contestants got their own back.

"She's absolutely totalled now," he said of his winning vehicle. "You only ever race each car once."

Simmons, who is 32, lives with fiance Chelle Broach and 19-month-old daughter Tayla in Bitterne Park. He has been racing cars for six years, falling in love with the sport after going to a race with his dad.