A young driver from Burton has got behind the wheel of a national driving competition, despite only being 15-years-old. Billy Treadwell snapped up the place in the Young Driver Challenge final after showing off his skills during lessons at the NEC, in Birmingham.
The Paulet School pupil was then chosen alongside 39 others, to take part in the contest, following hundreds of applications and a rigorous selection process.
They travelled to the British Motor Museum in Gaydon, Warwickshire, on September 3 to compete for the title of the UK’s best young driver – with all the competitors under the legal driving age of 17. Although Billy did not win the competition, he was thrilled to make it to the final and came in the top 20 overall.
He said: “I have been having lessons for over a year now and I have learnt so much. It is going to help make me a much safer driver when it comes to taking to the road for real at 17. I have really enjoyed taking part in the Young Driver Challenge and it was amazing to make the final. There were some great drivers and so I think we should all be very proud of ourselves.
“We were really put to the test with our driving, with activities such as parallel parking, reversing, tight steering and emergency stops, as well as just showing our skills at independent driving. I have had a lot of fun, and it is good to know that I have a strong understanding of how to drive and be safe on the roads.”
The 40 finalists were competing to receive prizes including young driver lessons, ‘on the road’ post-17 driving lessons courtesy of Goodyear, remote control cars provided by SKODA, and £500 discount on a car insurance premium courtesy of Young Driver sponsor Admiral. There was also a special Admiral award for the young driver who showed the best attitude, with a £200 cash prize.
Kim Stanton, who heads up the Young Driver scheme, said: “It really is a huge achievement for Billy and all of the young drivers who got the opportunity to compete in the final. We know that the youngsters work very hard during their lessons and while they are gaining invaluable experience, it is also great that they are recognised for their ability through this competition.