Driving force on glory track

The glamorous life of a top racing driver is beckoning for a Chadderton graduate who will compete later this month at Brands Hatch.

Former North Chadderton School pupil Ryan Cefferty raced his way into the final of Dunlop’s Academy — a competition dubbed the X-Factor of motorsport.

The 22-year-old, who has just completed an engineering degree at Lancaster University, underwent a day of intensive driver training and evaluation at the iconic Donnington Park circuit.

Ryan, from Firwood Park, and fellow contestant Mark Sheerin, beat off tough competition from five other drivers from the North to take a place in the final. Now they compete in the Dunlop Race Academy grand final at Rockingham on August 22 against two winners from the southern semi-final to find the winner of Dunlop Race Academy 2008.

The overall winner goes on to compete in the Dunlop Sport Maxx Cup at Brands Hatch in October, sharing the track with the professionals, then head to Monaco for a two-night stay in David Coulthard’s luxury Columbus Hotel. During the northern semi-final, Ryan — who has already secured a job as a graduate engineer with AstraZeneca in Macclesfield — took the wheel of a race-prepared SEAT Leon FR and a Porsche 968 Clubsport.

He also took part in a panel interview to test his media skills where he showed confidence and a passion for motorsport.

He said: “I had an amazing day at Donnington and really wanted to get through to the next stage.

“I enjoyed the tuition from the racing drivers and tried to take on board what I had learned during the day, as well as pushing myself to perform to my best ability.

“I just hope I can make it right through to the end and win.”

James Bailey, of Dunlop, said: “Ryan performed very well on the day and his attitude impressed the judges.

“It’s clearly very early days, but there’s a real chance of Ryan going all the way.”

Follow the action online atwww.driversknow.co.uk.