PURFLEET Banger racer Jack Coveney managed the incredibly rare feat of rolling his car completely over and carrying on to win a showstopping race at Arena Essex on Sunday.

Coveney was closing on the race leader when he clipped the spinning car of Grant Kilburn on the home straight and was launched into a spectacular rollover. Much to the delight of the huge crowd on hand, rather than spelling the end of his race, the car completed its rollover and landed in the right direction with Coveney continuing at a barely reduced pace.

He then set about reducing the gap to the leader and when the leader crashed out himself, Coveney could scarcely believe his luck as he took the win to a tumultuous reception from the crowd.

"All I remember is coming out of the bend and seeing a car right at the last minute - I clipped it and I went over" said Coveney. "When it landed I went to look in my mirror and it was gone - It happened so quickly. I couldn't believe nothing was badly damaged and I won the race as well!"

There was also the annual and extremely popular caravan race, with 16 combinations taking to the track.

Within seconds of the green flag, a huge pile up developed on the first bend with Bradley Powers being the first to destroy Jack Coveney's caravan, only to leave himself prone to a massive smash from Alfie Lee.

Spencer Cox was next on the scene and plunged into the remains of Alfie Lee's caravan, while Dwain Powers nearly rolled off the kerb as he powered past.

A dust storm developed as car after car powered into the debris and a few attempted to continue the race by using the edge of the speedway track.

The caravan of Dan Haupt then served as a launch pad for Iain Knight, who rolled onto his roof and skidded along the track into the turn one scrap pile, bringing the race to a halt.

After a brief hiatus to rescue some of the drivers, the race resumed with John Avery causing chaos by stomping on the brakes, which held everyone up and allowed Antoni Colby to drive into the back of Terry Smith's caravan.

Reiss Carroll won the race, fending off a challenge from Roy Rawlins, but Rawlins was to win the following Destruction Derby - aided by an attack from Lewis Munson, who went careering into Rawlins and ripping the remains of Rawlins caravan from him, allowing Rawlins greater mobility to finish off the remaining runners.

Courtesy of sponsors Essex Caravan Breakers, awards were handed to Avery and Haupt - for the best presented caravans, Iain Knight - for being the most entertaining driver and Avery for being the last caravan running.