Road ‘more dangerous’ than track

In his spare time, Jordan Gronkowski is often to be found pushing his Mini Cooper to the limit at Knockhill, but it is a very different story when he takes to the open road, writes Caroline Brodie

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AS A racing driver, 23-year-old Jordan Gronkowski knows a thing or two about driving fast. He also has a pretty good idea of how dangerous it can be if things go wrong. That is why the Banff-born engineer, who now lives and works in Glasgow, is supporting the Press and Journal’s Young Driver of the Year competition, which aims to save lives by improving driving standards.

He said: “I think because of the racing I have got a very clear way of thinking about things. There is the way I drive on the track and the way I drive on the road. It is a completely different mind-set.

“On the track, I am pushing myself to the limit all the time, whereas on the road, I am very much just a sensible driver.

“Also, if you go wrong on a track you hit a tyre wall; on the road, you might get a real wall or a lamppost, which could rip through your car. It’s a lot more dangerous. I know the amount of damage even a small impact against a tyre wall can do. When you hit it, you cannot believe the force, even at 30mph.”

Jordan, whose father, Harry, is a mechanic, developed a love of cars at a very young age.

When he was just 11, his parents bought him a kart and, soon after, his successful racing career took off – during which time he was twice selected to drive for the Scottish National Kart team and helped the team achieve Scotland’s first ever victory in 2005. The same year, he was chosen as the most promising Scottish driver of the year by the Association of Scottish Kart Clubs, a huge honour in the sport.

By this time, Jordan had also passed his driving test – first time round just six months after his 17th birthday – and had a Fiat Uno, which he said was a perfect first car with a nice small engine.

On passing, he also decided to complete Pass Plus, the Driving Standards Agency’s training scheme for newly qualified drivers.

This not only saved him money on his insurance but gave him much-needed experience in night driving, driving on dual-carriageways and driving in adverse weather conditions.

He said: “It gives you good experience for when you are in the car driving by yourself.

“It covered a whole load of things that weren’t in the driving test syllabus, so I think it was worth doing.”

Since then, his car racing career has also taken off. In late-2006, Jordan won the Alex John Forrest Motorsport Scholarship at Knockhill.

The scholarship aims to help young Scottish drivers reach the highest level, and in Jordan’s case, led to him competing in the Scottish Mini Cooper Championship last year. Despite missing five rounds due to mechanical problems, he came third in the second last race of the season and was awarded fourth place in the Newcomers’ Cup.

This year, he hopes to do even better when the championship kicks off at Knockhill this weekend.

To follow Jordan’s racing fortunes this year, visit www.jordan-gronkowski.co.uk

PASS Plus allows young drivers to gain valuable experience in areas not covered by the ordinary driving test and is open to any driver in the first 12 months after passing their test.

It aims to boost young drivers’ awareness and reduce the chances of them being involved in an accident, and involves taking six further lessons with an instructor, concentrating on driving in town, in all weathers, on rural roads, at night, on dual-carriageways and on motorways.

It costs the equivalent of those six extra lessons, although most local authorities offer some kind of grant towards the cost and those who complete the scheme usually qualify for a substantial discount on their motor insurance.

There is no test at the end, but entrants must complete all six modules.

Aberdeenshire community safety officer Kate Rigby said a £45 grant was currently available to Aberdeenshire residents and urged young drivers to consider it.

“Passing your test is just about learning what you need to know. Pass Plus is something extra to give young drivers more confidence and experience when they are out on the roads.”

She said it was important for young drivers to contact their local authority before applying to Pass Plus to qualify for a discount.

For more information about the scheme and discounts offered in your local authority area, visit passplus.org.uk/ sponsors.asp