‘Sports car win felt like a gift from my late dad’

A woman who won a Lotus Emira and £100,000 cash in a competition has said she believes the prize was a gift from her late father, who adored the British sports car maker.

Claire Carty, who lives in Liverpool with her partner Stephen and their 10-year-old son, said the win “felt like fate” and it was “a gift from Dad”.

“Dad was a massive Lotus fan – his first ever car was a Lotus Cortina and it was a huge part of my childhood,” the 47-year-old said.

“His hero was racer Jim Clark, so it was always his dream car. When I found out I’d won this, it honestly felt like fate.”