TWO friends from the armed forces battled it out in the ultimate banger race – in a car worth less than £200.

Senior aircraftsman John Mason and Cpl Karl Bartlett, both from Weymouth, lined up against 68 other teams to take part in the Barcelona Bangers rally for charity.

SAC Mason, serving in the RAF at MOD Stafford, and Cpl Bartlett, an army chef in the 47 Regiment Royal Artillery based at Portsmouth, have been friends since their schooldays at Radipole Primary and Wey Valley.

They were joined on the 3,500-mile round-trip from England to Spain by RAF colleagues SAC Paul Clark, also based at Stafford, and SAC William Paul, based in Holland.

On their six-day trip they packed themselves and their luggage into an 18-year-old Volkswagen Polo.

While most teams ditched their cars at Barcelona, the four men travelled back to the UK in their banger, which they bought for £162 on the internet.

SAC Mason, 27, said: “The days were hard up and down the mountains but we managed to get there. I was expecting to break down so I was quite happy we made it.”

The car was covered in bubble wrap and the logo of their chosen charity, The Big Salute, which supports five forces’ charities – BLESMA (British Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association), St Dunstan’s for blind ex-servicemen and women, Combat Stress, Veterans Aid, and FAB (Families’ Activities Breaks).

SAC Mason, who is starting a second tour of duty in Afghanistan soon, raises money for charity every year.

The team has so far raised £1,435 for The Big Salute and sponsorship is still open at: justgiving.com/ upsetskipper