Hundreds gathered in Five Oaks, West Sussex, to watch the British Lawn Mower Racing Association 500 race on August 12

Over 50 teams took part in the bizarre event which reality TV stars AJ and Curtis Pritchard kicked off.

The race sees contestants race around a track for a total of 400 miles, a distance equivalent to a London to Manchester trip.

Starting at 7 pm on Saturday, the drivers complete the gruelling race in the earlier hours of Sunday after spending 14 hours on the course.

For drivers, comfort took a backseat. These machines lacked suspension, offering only a padded seat against the course's brutal undulations. Mechanical glitches and exhaustion were constants.

The overall winner was a Group 4 Tractor style mower, number 43, a team called Bullseye Racing. It comprised a trio of drivers who were family members, Kenny Goodesmith, his brother Alfie Smith and his son Jack Smith

In celebration of its 50th Anniversary, the British Lawn Mower Racing Association (BLMRA) took an audacious leap. They swapped their famed 12-hour race for an exceptional event – the BLMRA 500. With over 50 brave teams, including international contenders, converging on a West Sussex field, this was no ordinary race. The 14-hour, 500-lap endurance race unfolded largely under the veil of night. Starting at 7 pm with a Le Mans-style running start, the field transformed into a symphony of engine roars as mowers blazed around the 1212m circuit. The numbers are staggering: the victorious mower likely covered a jaw-dropping 400 miles after those relentless laps – an achievement equivalent to a London to Manchester round trip, all on a lawnmower.

Categories spanned Group 4 tractor-style mowers, Group 2 towed seat mowers, and Group 3 compact lawnbugs. The night race meant pit stops were a whirlwind of activity, with mechanics battling mechanical failures.

For drivers, comfort took a backseat. These machines lacked suspension, offering only a padded seat against the course's brutal undulations. Mechanical glitches and exhaustion were constants. At dawn, a renewed spirit kept the drivers going as the finish line appeared distant but palpable.
The unyielding pace persisted. As the chequered flag marked the end, race leaders were still pushing their limits. This 50th-anniversary spectacle told a story of perseverance, a connection between racers and their pit crews, and a narrative of human-machine synergy which is now etched in motorsport lore.

The overall winner was a Group 4 Tractor style mower, number 43, a team called Bullseye Racing. It comprised a trio of drivers who were family members, Kenny Goodesmith his Brother Alfie Smith with his son Jack Smith