VERWOOD’S Kevin Slyfield was honoured as Motor Sports Association British drag racing champion for 2015 at an awards ceremony in London’s West End.

The MSA, governing body of UK motorsport, saluted its national title winners at the annual Night of Champions at the Royal Automobile Club.

Slyfield was handed the trophy by motorcycling and Formula One legend John Surtees, the only racer to win world championships on two and four wheels.

Dorset’s Slyfield began 2015 with victory at the season-opening race, before winning the third round and then maintaining his points lead throughout the six-race series to secure the crown.

He had entered the championship class, Pro Modified, in 2007 with a car that offered more style than substance. The 1941 Willys Sedan-bodied machine won awards for its appearance but proved difficult to handle on track.

Last year, Slyfield debuted a 1957 Ford Thunderbird and within a year the new car showed its worth, transforming Slyfield and his team from journeyman competitors into champions.

Alongside two race wins, the 3,000-horsepower machine clocked career-best performance figures for Slyfield of 6.349 seconds and 223.30mph over the standing-start quarter-mile.

Both cars were built by leading Hampshire constructor Andy Robinson Race Cars.

Slyfield, proprietor of a Verwood-based precision engineering company, will launch the defence of his crown at Easter’s Festival of Power event at Santa Pod Raceway from March 25-27.