LEARNER drivers in Elgin could soon be getting to grips with the fundamentals of driving in a stunning new Seat Ibiza Sport, thanks to the Press and Journal Young Driver of the Year.
Ben Laing is in the final straight of becoming a driving instructor and plans to use his prize to teach a new generation of drivers about the benefits of safe driving.
The 22-year-old, who was handed the keys at the Taste of Grampian motor show at the Thainstone Centre, Inverurie, on Saturday, performed best during a fantastic day of driving at Knockhill Racing Circuit, in Fife, last month.
All 12 finalists were put to the test on the skid pan, track and road, and on a course designed to test their manoeuvring skills under the close watch of instructors from both Knockhill and Grampian Police.
The runners-up were Claire McBean, 19, from Inverness; Angus Flett, 23, from Helmsdale, Sutherland, and Maximillian Schneider, 20, from Balmedie.
The campaign was launched by the Press and Journal to try to tackle the shocking number of young people being killed and injured on our roads and aimed to promote improved driving standards and highlight the importance of advanced driving skills.
It was run in partnership with Grampian Police, Knockhill’s Centre for Driver Excellence, the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) and Specialist Cars Seat.
Ben, who currently works for Elgin Land Rover dealership Frank Ogg, recently gained 100% in the theory part of the Driving Standards Agency’s driving instructor test and has also passed the practical driving test.
He now plans to spend the next two or three months honing his instructing techniques before he is ready to sit the final test and embark on his new career.
He hopes his new car will help attract custom when the time comes.
He said: “I’m quite young and the car is something very special, so I’m hoping that will help entice people to come on board.”
Speaking about the competition, he added: “I thought it was really good, especially with the involvement of Knockhill – that really made the competition. There was a lot of training involved in that as well.”
He described the new car as “brilliant” and “really good to drive”.
“It’s the nicest wee car I’ve ever driven,” he added.
Ben, who passed his IAM advanced driving test when he was just a teenager, was one of more than 100 people who entered the Press and Journal competition, which challenged drivers under the age of 25 to demonstrate a high level of practical skill and good knowledge of the Highway Code.
Announcing the winner on Saturday, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “We all know about the enormous toll on our roads over the past few years, particularly among young people. We have to remember the message today is a very serious one. The best people to promote that message are young men and women.”