11-year-old in national driving final
AN 11-year-old Devon boy has qualified for a national driving competition – despite not being old enough to hold a licence.
Jenson Sharp, from Copplestone near Crediton, is a finalist in the Young Driver Challenge 2021, having beaten off stiff competition from hundreds of other entries.
The competition is run by the UK’s largest pre-17 driving school, Young Driver, and all entrants are aged between 10 and 16.
Having had several lessons at Young Driver’s Exeter venue, Jenson was put forward by his instructor, who was impressed by his driving skills.
Young Driver lessons take place on private property in dual-controlled Vauxhall Corsas with fully qualified instructors, and youngsters learn in a real car as they would on the road at 17.
Jenson, who goes to Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton, said: “I think it’s going to help me a lot when I get to 17 and start to learn on the road. I’m hoping I do well at the final, but I’m just going to enjoy it!”
Twenty finalists in each of two age categories – 10-13 and 14-16 – will attend the final, which is being held on October 2 at the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, hosted by motoring expert and former presenter of Top Gear and Fifth Gear Quentin Willson.
Sue Waterfield, head of marketing for Young Driver, said: “The whole purpose of Young Driver is to create safer newly qualified drivers, and it is great to be able to celebrate the achievements of those youngsters who are taking that responsibility very seriously.”