A college student from London had the surprise of a lifetime when he scooped a brand-new £52,000 set of wheels plus £70,000 in cash thanks to online competitions company, BOTB…but the 21-year-old doesn’t have a driving licence!
Wimbledon-based Osman Abdullah was in the middle of an online college class when BOTB presenter Christian Williams video-called to tell him he was this week’s Dream Car Competition winner and the proud new owner of a Mercedes A45S AMG as well as thousands of pounds richer.
“I can’t believe it,” he said. “This is a dream come true!”
But the City of Westminster student soon revealed he couldn’t actually drive.
“I was having lessons before the pandemic,” he added. “But since lockdown, I’ve not been able to book a test!”
Osman, who is studying Science at college and hopes to be a surgeon, paid just £2 for his ticket to enter the competition.
“I’ve been saving money for the past two years so that when I pass my test I can get a nice car,” he explained. “But I never in a million years expected to drive a £50,000 Mercedes!”
The Mercedes A45S features a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, turbocharged engine that can hit 62mph in just 3.9 seconds.
But it wasn’t just the wheels Osman scooped in the competition as Christian opened the boot to reveal a briefcase stuffed with £70,000 in cash, too.
“How am I supposed to carry on with my class now,” he laughed. “I won’t be able to concentrate!”
Osman, who moved to London to study in 2016, said some of the money would go towards a house for his mum who lives in Sudan.
“I would definitely give some of it to get my mum to get a house,” he said. “She definitely deserves it.
“I’d have to have a think about what else to spend it on – I just can’t believe it!”
BOTB hands over the keys to two stunning cars each week as well as a lifestyle prize. Other recent winners have bagged a quad bike, a holiday to Las Vegas and a gaming tech bundle.
The company, listed on the stock market, was founded by William Hindmarch in 1999 and has given away more than £37m-worth of cars so far.
Christian, who surprises the BOTB winners each week, said: “What a day for Osman! I did feel guilty interrupting his college class but I’m sure he was happy for my call in the end. I can’t believe the Mercedes is going to be Osman’s first car – and paired with the cash too, it’s a fantastic prize! Massive congratulations again!”
