Northern Ireland dad wins £100K car and cash prize days after 50th birthday

Simon Lloyd from Ballyclare lands life-changing BOTB dream prize with Volkswagen Touareg R and £20,000 cash

A father-of-three from Ballyclare, County Antrim, is still reeling after winning a luxury car and cash prize worth over £100,000 — just days after celebrating his 50th birthday.

Simon Lloyd, who works as a project manager in the energy sector, scooped a top-of-the-range Volkswagen Touareg R eHybrid, worth £82,840, along with £20,000 in cash, through leading online competition company BOTB (Best of the Best).

BOTB presenter Christian Williams arrived at Simon’s home to deliver the surprise in person — a moment Simon described as “surreal”.

“I thought it was the postman!” said a stunned Simon.

“What a delivery! I need to compose myself – I’m absolutely blown away. You always daydream about these sorts of competitions when you enter them, but then you forget about it. To actually win – it’s surreal.”

The Volkswagen Touareg R is a powerful plug-in hybrid SUV, boasting a V6 petrol engine and electric motor that combine to produce a mighty 456bhp. Sleek, luxurious and eco-conscious, the model is known for delivering both high performance and style.

“I’ve always loved the Touareg – it looks classy,” Simon said. “This is going to take my daily commute to a whole new level. I can’t believe there’s one here with my name on it.”

Despite his admiration for the car, Simon admitted he’s tempted by the cash alternative to help support his family, especially with two of his children preparing for university.

“I would love to take the car. It ticks all the boxes, but the money will provide so many opportunities for me and my family,” he said.

“I have twin girls who are heading to university in September, so I’ll be able to put some money aside for them. They’ve recently passed their driving tests too, so I’ll be able to get them a runaround. It would also be nice to use some on a holiday, and hopefully there’ll be enough left over to get a cool car for myself.”

Adding to the excitement, the BOTB team dramatically revealed the £20,000 cash stashed in the boot of the car — a moment Simon described as “life-changing”.

“This is life-changing,” he said. “I think I’m going to need a strong cup of tea after this!”

BOTB presenter Christian Williams said the timing of the win — so close to Simon’s milestone birthday — made it extra special.

“Simon was such a brilliant winner – genuinely shocked and such a lovely guy. And with his birthday just over the weekend, the timing couldn’t have been better. What a present! The Touareg R is an awesome bit of kit and one of the nicest places you can sit behind the wheel.”

Co-presenter Katie Knight, who joined Christian on the surprise visit, added:

“You could see just how much the surprise meant to Simon. It’s one of those moments that reminds you why we love doing this – seeing people’s dreams come true.”

Founded in 1999, BOTB has handed over £102 million worth of cars and prizes, and continues to make dreams come true with its weekly dream car giveaways and lifestyle prizes.

Reflecting on the experience, Simon said:

“The whole thing has been a fantastic experience. I keep thinking to myself, ‘Did that really happen?’ Opening my door to BOTB and seeing the car was some birthday present.”

You can watch Simon’s reaction and view other winners at BOTB.com.