BLUE chip companies like Microsoft and Pfizer are among the front-runners in The Times-Lease Plan Company Car Driver of the Year competition. In the most recent heats - held in Maidstone and Oxford - Malcolm Cooper of Direct Line Insurance and Richard Crow of Pfizer emerged on top in Maidstone, while Microsoft's Kevin Gemmel and the Decision Group's Kevin Roberts were triumphant in Oxford.

The winners beat off competition from major players such as Bayer, Sun Life Assurance, DowElanco Europe and the RSPCA. The finals will be held at Silverstone next month (June).