- at the back of the grid!

He's never made it onto a motor race podium, but Blue Bell BMW's Andrew Brewer has been handed a top accolade all the same - for more than two decades spent consistently at the back of the field.

It is 21 years ago this year that Cheshire's Blue Bell BMW first provided the official course car for British Racing and Sports Car Club races at Oulton Park.

Now the Wilmslow and Crewe-based dealer provides three: for the clerk of the course, for the observer and as a chase or pace car.

"The first car we provided was a 635i back in 1983 - at BRSCC race meetings in 2004 I drive a BMW 645i that serves as the chase car for the rolling starts and a support car between races," said Andrew, 40, Blue Bell Wilmslow's Parts Manager.

Since 1990 Andrew has been driving the car at the head - or more often back - of the field and BRSCC North Western presented him - and Blue Bell BMW - with a special one-off trophy for his consistency and loyalty to the safety cause at Oulton Park, and his contributions to racing at Anglesey Circuit, where he is also secretary of race meetings.

The first car was provided by current Blue Bell chairman Chris Brownson. It put the company on track for some famous moments - as one of the official course car drivers Andrew has found himself sharing the circuit with some racing legends.

"They weren't just sharing the circuit, they were passengers in my car," he said.

And "they" have included some of the world's best: Sir Stirling Moss, Jack Brabham and Roy Salvadori amongst them.

"Fortunately they were waving to the crowd and not looking at my driving," added Andrew.

But has Andrew ever thought about racing himself? "No, I get a huge kick from watching motor sport and from participating in the organisation of events. That's reward in itself - receiving an accolade for Blue Bell's support of Oulton Park is the icing on the 21st anniversary cake."