A RYEDALE tradesman has scooped a £40,000 Hollywood supercar in a national competition.

Ian Smithson, 32, from Kirkbymoorside, is swapping his old van for a souped-up 155mph Mitsubishi Evo Seven racer, made famous in the boy racer movie 2Fast 2Furious.

Ian heard the news of his win as he relaxed in a Sunday afternoon bath. He said: "At first I thought it was a wind up - but when I saw the car I knew it was real.

"It's a dream motor, but I'm not sure I am going to be able to keep it because the insurance is phenomenal."

Ian caught the train from York to Northampton, the UK base of Japanese performance tyre specialists Toyo, who put the car up as a winning prize in a mobile phone text competition.

Updated: 09:20 Monday, December 22, 2003