Racing dream is over

A budding racing driver from Chadderton has narrowly missed out on winning Dunlop’s 2008 Race Academy.

Engineering graduate Ryan Cefferty (22), of Firwood Park, competed against three other drivers at the grand final at Bedford Autodrome last weekend.

After two semi-finals and a gruelling day of tests and tuition, Ryan was assessed on track by Le Mans star Calum Lockie, driving coach Mark Hales and former Race Academy winner Simon Shaw.

But Ryan, who has already secured a job as a graduate engineer with AstraZeneca in Macclesfield, was beaten to the title by Roscoe Howell, from Pembroke

Ryan said: “Obviously I am disappointed that I didn’t win but all of the finalists have won in a way because we’ve been given an invaluable experience.

“I’ve learned a lot during the Academy that I can take away with me.”