FIVE members of the Avon Protection Product Development Team in Melksham have competed in this year’s Red Bull Soapbox Race 2017 as Team Gas Gas Gas.

With over 4,000 teams applying to take part in the race, Team Gas Gas Gas impressed the judges with their gas mask themed entry and managed to make the final 75 to take part in the race.

Team Gas Gas Gas raced down the 450-metre course at Alexandra Palace on Sunday 9 July, in London to a crowd of 20,000 people including Avon Protection employees and their families.

The team were super excited to take part in this international event, in which amateur drivers race homemade unpowered vehicles down a track featuring ramps and chicanes.

The team comprised pilots Nick Hunter and Phil Smith, and crew members Luke Hylands, Martin Spencer and Zofia Gawor.

Team Captain Nick Hunter said: “It was an awesome experience taking part in the Red Bull Soapbox Race! The whole team put in a massive effort to build our soapbox racer in our spare time.

"We had great fun and learnt some new skills along the way. We’re also very grateful to the local companies who helped us by donating materials for the build.”

Team Gas Gas Gas built a truly unique soapbox racer based around the historical Avon Protection S10 gas mask. Despite spectacularly crashing at the 320-metre mark, the team soldiered on and finished the course in a time of 1:27.84, finishing in an impressive 14th position overall.

In the process, Team Gas Gas Gas raised more than £500 for the Wiltshire-based Help for Heroes charity. Their Red Bull Soapbox race vehicle will be on display in the Melksham Carnival procession on Saturday.