FAST cars are an unusual obsession for a 70-year-old grandmother. But Mrs Marjorie Wainwright - who only learnt to drive at the age of 41 - adores racing and rally cars.

A late starter to the driving seat, she never entertained thoughts of sedate shopping trips and gentle journeys in the countryside. Instead, she developed an enthusiasm for going to car rallies then to entering them as a competitor, just for fun, and even to helping construct vehicles.

"When I decide to do something, I go at it hell for leather," she said.

Her biggest moment of triumph was winning a North Yorkshire and Cleveland 12-car rally. "I was the only woman in the race, and all the men were very put out at my victory, making excuses about their vehicles and so on," she said.

She also served the sport as a marshall, though her health now prevents her attending rallies.

Over the years, Mrs Wainwright built up a collection of 150 model cars which are on display at her home in Ramshaw; her favourite is a 1955 ice blue Lancia Spider Aurelia B24, which she adores for its shape, style and speed.

In the 70s, she had two Lancias herself, and describes them as lovely cars. "Unfortunately, they weren't made for the British weather and were just rust buckets, so I turned to an RS 2000," she said.

Another of her favourite miniatures is a rare six-wheel Tyrrell Elf. Six wheels instead of four were meant to improve traction and road holding, but it did not work, hence the rarity.

All the miniatures are representative of cars that have been in actual races. Also taking pride of place is a spark plug that came out of a Williams Formula 1 car, with the documentation to go with it.

Mrs Wainwright loved cars long before she learnt to drive. "I took to it naturally and passed my test first time. I felt I had been given a set of wings," she said.

"Once I hit 40, I set myself three goals. I learned to swim, drive and water ski, so life did really did begin at 40."

Until then, she had been busy bringing up a family and running Seaton Hall hotel at Seaton Carew, but once she gained a taste for driving there was no stopping her.

While running the hotel, she and her first husband sponsored various 12-car rallies and auto tests, which are timed runs to show vehicle control. Then, under pressure from two of her sons, Christopher and Stephen, she became a member of Hartlepool and district motor club where, despite most other members being in their early 20s, she was soon accepted. "Once I had been two or three times, they treated me just the same as everyone else," she said.

Mrs Wainwright undertook her fair share of marshalling, helping on what was formerly the Lombard RAC rally as well as 12-car rallies. She entered the North Yorkshire and Cleveland 12-car rally for fun, with her son, Christopher, navigating.

She soon became used to ferrying him all over the UK to pick up spare parts for his car, before travelling with him to rallies countrywide. She also has two other sons, Paul and Mark, who used to go rallying before they turned their attention to motorbikes.

"In those days, though a new set of tyres was needed each time you raced, you could put a car together for a reasonable amount of money, but you can't afford to do it nowadays," she said. "I am not an expert mechanic, but I can do running repairs."

Difficulty in walking now prevents her from attending rallies, but she remains an avid motor racing fan and rarely misses the chance to watch races on television. Her favourite driver is Michael Schumacher, whom she describes as brilliant. David Coulthard has also captured her heart, and favourites from the old days include Jackie Stewart, Damon Hill and Jim Clark, whose grave in Scotland she has visited.

What would she like to drive these days? A TVR Tuscan, with a private race track to take it round," she said.

Her models are housed in a wall-to-wall cabinet built by her husband, Ian, who has constructed a great deal of the woodwork in the couple's home, much of it made from reclaimed pallets from Malaysia. His latest effort was to make a writing desk for his wife's 70th birthday by bonding reclaimed eucalyptus with medium density fibreboard.

The couple's other passion is gardening. They were featured in the D&S Times recently when they were awarded a plaque for the best kept garden in Evenwood and Ramshaw.

Mr Wainwright, who is rarely allowed behind the wheel when accompanied by his wife, is always telling her to step off the gas - advice which she ignores, clearly prefering to grow old disgracefully