Gill Bell's hill climb career is on the up

Nurse Gill Bell has discovered a new talent at the age of 49 - as a motor racing champion.

She had never tried out racing until climbing into her race car around 12 months ago.

But she has now swapped her usual runaround of a Vauxhall Corsa to become a champion at Hagley Light Car Club's Loton Park hill climb track.

Her boyfriend Neville Thomson's OMS single seater is powered by a Kawasaki engine and can hit 60mph in three seconds.

Driving it, she consistently improved her times over eight events and held her nerve to take the title on the last timed run of the season at Loton Park in Shropshire.

Although she spun off during her morning run, the car was not damaged. Then, in the afternoon session, she drove a personal best time to be crowned the TTC Motorsport Loton Park champion for 2010.

Gill, from Bridgnorth, said: "It's brought out my competitive spirit and I've enjoyed challenging the men. I am very grateful to Neville, who has supported me throughout the year, and to my fellow Hagley Car Club members, who have provided inspiration and advice during a very close and competitive championship.

"This year has been the 75th Anniversary of our Hagley club and also the 50th Anniversary of Loton Park itself, so it has been especially rewarding to win."

Club spokesman Tony Adams said: "It's been amazing to watch her progress over the season. She has taken to the sport like a duck to water. Gill competed against more than 50 drivers from across the country in regular hill climb meetings at the venue before clinching the title. She has continually bettered herself. Her time up the hill went from 95 seconds at the start of the season to just over 60 seconds."

Gill has recently traded in her Corsa for a sportier MG TF roadster.