FORD has broken arch-rival Vauxhall's stranglehold on the Association of Car Fleet Operators' 'Fleet Car of the Year Award'. This year, the 11th annual poll among ACFO's 640 fleet operator members, the Ford Mondeo has won the prestigious accolade.

The result, by a clear margin, gives Ford its second triumph in the competition - having won it in 1989 when the Ford Sierra took the coveted prize. The remaining nine awards have all gone to the Vauxhall Cavalier.

ACFO announced the winner on the opening day of the Fleet Show at Silverstone, when chairman Tony Leigh presented the award to Ford director of fleet operations Mike Wear. After presenting a silver salver to Wear in recognition of Ford's triumph, Leigh said: 'I am delighted the Mondeo has won. The depth of the range, and the overall reliability have made the Mondeo popular with fleet managers.'