AN AVID motor sport fan, who could become the next Colin McRae, has reached the semi-finals of a competition which could make his dream come true.

Thirty-five year old James Loftus, of Douglas Road, Leigh, could soon be swapping his job in a high street bank for the fast-pace lifestyle of a rally driver.

He entered the competition earlier in the year, and has since undertaken gruelling tasks and fought off around 1000 other competitors to reach the final 50.

James has raced rally cars on gravel and tarmac, taken part in medical tests and intelligence tests, and been followed around by a cameraman with a microphone.

He said: "I've always been interested in motor sports, especially rallying because it's driving a normal car in all different conditions, and there's much more skill involved. I just entered the competition to see if I could do it."

If James succeeds in getting through to the final round, which takes place in December in Blyth, in Lincolnshire, he will battle against five other people, for the chance to take part in six races of the next Junior Rally Driving Championship.

He will be given a race-prepared Peugeot 206, a co-driver, mechanics, insurance, and everything else needed to race, making the prize worth over £30,000.

Excited at the prospect James said: "I'd like to win the competition, do the races as best as I can, and hopefully find a place as a professional driver. If not, I will take a professional rally driving course to get a licence, and try to join motoring clubs and find a car to race."

And will he keep his job working in IT if he does find a car to drive?

"Even if I only get a position as a professional driver for year, I would give up my job. It would be a dream come true for me!"

This is the second the year the contest has been held by ProSpeed in Leeds, along with Peugeot, and they hope it will become an annual event.