Vauxhall's VXR Racing Driver of the Year competition arrived in the North West last Sunday and Chorley's Christopher Morris was one of the competitors trying his luck to win a place in the Grand Final - which aims to find the UK's best natural driving talent later on in the year.

Around 350 drivers attended the North West semi-finals of the national competition, which were held at Daytona Manchester Karting circuit, near Trafford.

"I qualified seventh fastest in my session and then I finished seventh in the Grand Prix in the morning," said Morris, 22.

"I was pleased with my performance despite not winning because the whole experience was great."

The competition was uncompromising, with fierce battles down the field as drivers fought for the £80,000 first prize of a Vauxhall-backed drive in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Production Car Cup, a feeder series to the UK's largest motor racing package, the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

Vauxhall's BTCC works team, VX Racing, was represented at the event by star driver Fabrizio Giovanardi, who was the world karting champion in 1986.

"The biggest problem is if you don't know the circuit," said the seven-time touring car champion.

The two provisional winners from the North West semi-final were Manchester's Paul Phelan and John Allison of Beverley.