Oily rags to riches: Mechanic wins £107m lotto jackpot

A CAR mechanic who went from oily rags to riches after scooping the £107.9 million Euromillions jackpot plans to buy a fleet of supercars with his new-found fortune.
Car mechanic and racing driver Neil Trotter, with partner Nicky OttawayCar mechanic and racing driver Neil Trotter, with partner Nicky Ottaway
Car mechanic and racing driver Neil Trotter, with partner Nicky Ottaway

Neil Trotter, from Coulsdon, south London, plans to upgrade his oil-stained Ford Focus with some flashier cars, including a McLaren.

But first on the shopping list is a new house, with ample garage space.

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The 41-year-old hot rod racer, who runs a repair garage in Mitcham, south London, called Chameleon Coachworks, became the National Lottery’s fourth biggest winner on Friday night.

The self-confessed motor racing fanatic now plans to hang up his car mechanic overalls and follow his passion for British touring car racing.

Mr Trotter anticipates that some people might joke about his surname and him becoming a millionaire.

“Me and my dad thought we’d heard all the Only Fools And Horses jokes but I can see this is going to run and run,” he said.

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“Still, being Trotters, we were always going to be millionaires one day.”

Mr Trotter was so confident he would win a prize that he told staff at his father’s office last Friday lunchtime that “this time tomorrow” he would be a multimillionaire.

He learnt he was the single ticket-holder to scoop the massive jackpot on Friday evening at around 10.30pm.

He said: “I’ve always thought I’d win big and I’d had a good feeling all week.

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“On Friday evening we were sitting at home when I checked the time and thought the draw must have taken place by now.

“I took out my ticket to check the winning numbers and amazingly one by one they matched. I told Nicky, my partner, ‘I’ve done it, I’ve won the lottery’. But she told me to shut up and to stop being an idiot.

“Apparently I turned white as a sheet and couldn’t sit still, I kept walking round the house - I didn’t know what to do with myself. I got her to check the numbers with me and she started screaming.

“Next we called my dad but he said I was being an idiot too and that I should stop drinking. But I hadn’t had a drop. Even when we jumped in the car and drove round, it took him a while to realise we were serious. My dad’s not often lost for words but he was on Friday night.”

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Mr Trotter and Nicky Ottaway, 33, his partner of eight years, finally headed for bed at around 3am but had a restless night before calling Camelot first thing on Saturday.

They have already made plans to spend some of their fortune on cars, a new home and a holiday abroad - as soon as Mr Trotter has renewed his passport.

“I drive a Ford Focus at the moment. It’s always been reliable but the steering wheel is black from oil off my hands and it’s time for an upgrade,” he said.

“There are a lot of stunning cars out there - I’m going to need a lot of garage space at the new house. I would love to own a hypercar - that would be amazing. Something like the McLaren, although I’m not sure how easy they are to get hold of.”

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Mr Trotter came sixth last summer in the BMW Compact Cup as a newcomer.

He said: “I worked my last shift on Friday repairing and spraying other people’s cars.

“I have a few phone calls to make to let people down but this is my time now. I’m taking time off and going to really enjoy following the British Touring Car Championships.

“It’s my passion and I wouldn’t mind a guest driver slot if I can find the right car. I was building one up until last week but I’m thinking of taking a rest from that too.”

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As well as a enormous garage, the couple’s new home needs to include stables.

Ms Ottaway, who works as an accounts assistant, loves riding and would like to buy a new horse or even two, plus a horse trailer.

The EuroMillions Lucky Dip ticket was bought from Londis on Wallington Corner in Wallington and the winning numbers were 6, 24, 25, 27, 30 and Lucky Stars 5 and 9.

Top of the National Lottery rich list are Colin and Chris Weir, who banked a £161 million EuroMillions jackpot in July 2011.

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