The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

Young Drivers are the Star Attraction at Silverstone

MANCHESTER, England, September 27 -- Preparations are underway for this years' final of the 'Catherine Kenyon Young Driver of the Year Competition' that will be held at the famous Silverstone Race Circuit, in Northamptonshire, on October 16th. With 40 young drivers from around the country set to battle it out for the coveted title.

Now in its fourteenth year, the competition is designed to drive home the message to younger motorists that they are the ones most at risk of becoming just another fatal accident statistic, with figures showing that around 15% of all UK road deaths involve 17-21 year olds, in fact statistics show that one in 10 drivers on UK roads are under 25, unfortunately one in 4 of those killed on our roads every year are also under 25.

The competition is being backed by leading financial services provider, Co-operative Insurance Society (CIS), for the 10th year running, and is run in conjunction with the Catherine Kenyon Charitable Trust and The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

Qualification for the final is via the Trusts website www.youngdriver.org where entrants have to complete a 'driver profiler' questionnaire that determines whether they are a low, medium or a high-risk driver. As the aim of the competition is to provide education and training for young drivers, finalists will be selected from all three categories. Entry to the competition closes on Friday 9th October, rules for entry can be found on the Trusts website.

On the day, all competitors will be put to the test through a series of demanding exercises, including Skid - Control, Manoeuvring, Theory and an overall Drive section. An individual winner will be named for each of the individual exercises and will collect points for their success. Upon completion of all the tests, the entrant with the most points will be crowned the 'Catherine Kenyon Young Driver Of The Year'. They will be presented with prizes including CIS motor insurance vouchers worth up to GBP500, proof of no claim discount and the opportunity to take part in the 2006 Uniroyal 'Team Challenge'.

Russ Brady CIS's Head of Communications said: "We are very pleased to have been supporting this competition for what will be our tenth year. Being involved in the Catherine Kenyon Young Driver of the Year Competition is just one element of our 'Responsible Driving Campaign'. We believe that education is key to reducing the number of young people killed on our roads each year and that is why we are pleased to be working with The Catherine Kenyon Trust."

Russ continued, "CIS insures over 1 million vehicles and is committed to improving road safety for everyone. This initiative provides an ideal opportunity to target and educate a significant number of those most at risk - the young and inexperienced. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the finalists the best of luck in the competition."

Notes to Editors:

- In 1990, Catherine Kenyon (27) was killed when a reckless 21-year old driver swept her car off the road. Following her death, her parents set up a trust, part of which is the Catherine Kenyon Young Driver of the Year Competition - the aim of which is to improve the standard of young drivers. This is the thirteenth year of the competition, which was founded through the Catherine Kenyon Charitable Trust.

27th September 2005: Duncan Bowker, CFS Press Office, Tel: +44-(0)161-829-4245, e-mail duncan.bowker@cfs.co.uk, Natalie Kurpas, CFS Press Office, Tel: +44(0)161-829-4244, e-mail natalie.kurpas@cfs.co.uk