WHEN your hero is Formula 1 champion Nigel Mansell it takes a lot to emulate him.

But Eltham cabbie Matt Gilmore is edging closer to following in his idol's tyre tracks to the Shell Optimax F1 Drivers' Challenge.

The 26-year-old is one of 75 drivers left from 2,000 who signed up for the chance to get behind the wheel of a F1 car.

Having won through an indoor karting session to reach the last 400 and then a gruelling assault course which whittled the numbers down to 200, Matt's eighth and fifth finishes in two karting sprints were enough to see him to the last 75.

They will now be judged in saloon cars round the Croft circuit in Darlington on June 8 before the top three go to Germany for F1 test driving.

The eventual winner will turn out in the EuroBOSS super prix series driving a prestigious F1 machine which is more than 10 years old.

The Middle Park Avenue resident said: "Someone is going to be very lucky.

"It would be a dream come true as I have been following F1 since I was a little boy.

"Nigel Mansell has inspired me, he is the best racing driver Britain has produced and he is really gutsy.

"If I could drive anything like him I would be a happy man."

This is the second time Matt, who has been a cabbie for a year, has entered the challenge.

In its inaugural year in 2004 Matt missed out in the physical round after breaking a rib in a pre-challenge go-kart accident.

The following year Matt was back-packing through Asia but this time round he is raring to go.

There is more on offer than a drive in a F1 car too as the winner gets a year-long management contract with organisers So World.

With the chance of a subsidised drive in a championship, winning the challenge could open up many driver's side doors for Matt.

You can follow his progress on Sky TV channel Men and Motors provisionally scheduled to start on June 21.