The annual competition to find the best mechanic in the UK is now open for entries.

The Top Technician competition was created seven years ago “to help change the public’s misconception of cowboy repairers and to reward the many highly-skilled technicians who face complex technology everyday in their garages”, said the competition’s organisers.

Experienced repairers of passenger cars should enter Top Technician 2010 online at www.toptechnician.co.uk.

Motorists are also being encouraged to nominate technicians from their local garage.

Entrants are sent a link to an online test which must be completed by January 8 2010.

The questions cover a range of topics related to the repair and maintenance of passenger cars and have been written by chief judge Ian Gillgrass of the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI).

The winner will receive a tax-free sum of £2,500 and thousands of pounds’ worth of prizes from this year’s sponsors Blueprint, Comma Oil & Chemicals, Delphi, Euro Car Parts, Lemforder and Motor Codes.

Last year’s prize haul included holiday vouchers, diagnostic kit, a race day, a choice of ATA and more.

The winner will be crowned on the Top Technician stand at Workshop 2010 at the NEC Birmingham on April 15 next year.