Paul Swift (Driver)
Encyclopedia
Paul Swift is a British driver who is best known for Autotesting
, precision driving and his involvement in live action arenas at motor shows including the UK Motorshow and Top Gear Live.
at Silverstone
.
At the age of 16, Paul began competing in a form of motorsport called Autotesting
with both Durham & Hartlepool motor clubs. After winning the regional championship in 1998 he moved up the BTRDA’s nation championship.
In the years to follow he clinched no less than seven national titles, winning over 40 national events outright as well as representing England on many occasions.
In 2006 Paul became the first Englishman ever to win a round of the Northern Irish Autotest Championship outright, in a borrowed Mini Special.
The following season, after winning his Seventh British Championship, Paul announced his retirement from competitive motor sport and left his job as a mechanical engineer to concentrate fully on his life long passion for stunt driving.
In recent years this team have revolutionised motoring events throughout the globe, with live action performances to take the breath away. Paul's involvement in motorshows and precision driving demonstrations across the globe has been extensive. Performing in Europe
, Americas
, Asia
, Africa
and Australia
for both TV and live motor theatre audiences in almost every car imaginable, Paul has earned himself a great deal of respect in the motorsport
community.
He has appeared on BBC
's Top Gear television on a number of occasions, as well as being part of the Top Gear Live tour. Paul has recently been seen on TV programmes including Top Gear, Fifth Gear
and Guinness World Records Smashed
. Some of his other clients include Vauxhall
, Audi
, Ford
, MINI
, Halfords
, Vodafone
, Airbus
and Paramount Pictures
.
Autotesting
Autotesting involves a series of tests, generally around traffic cones, to measure precision driving skill. The tests often include stopping with the front and rear wheels straddling a line, and always end stopping in a garage . Sections of each test are usually completed in reverse...
, precision driving and his involvement in live action arenas at motor shows including the UK Motorshow and Top Gear Live.
Career
Paul Swift started his stunt driving career at the age of seven where he learned to drive the family’s ride on lawn-mover on two wheels. Within three months of practicing, the skillful youngster managed to set a world record performing the stunt over a distance of 230m. His first ever precision driving show was as part of his fathers display team (Russ Swift) in a Miniature Rover Montego at the British Grand PrixBritish Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
at Silverstone
Silverstone Circuit
Silverstone Circuit is an English motor racing circuit next to the Northamptonshire villages of Silverstone and Whittlebury. The circuit straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border, with the current main circuit entry on the Buckinghamshire side...
.
At the age of 16, Paul began competing in a form of motorsport called Autotesting
Autotesting
Autotesting involves a series of tests, generally around traffic cones, to measure precision driving skill. The tests often include stopping with the front and rear wheels straddling a line, and always end stopping in a garage . Sections of each test are usually completed in reverse...
with both Durham & Hartlepool motor clubs. After winning the regional championship in 1998 he moved up the BTRDA’s nation championship.
In the years to follow he clinched no less than seven national titles, winning over 40 national events outright as well as representing England on many occasions.
In 2006 Paul became the first Englishman ever to win a round of the Northern Irish Autotest Championship outright, in a borrowed Mini Special.
The following season, after winning his Seventh British Championship, Paul announced his retirement from competitive motor sport and left his job as a mechanical engineer to concentrate fully on his life long passion for stunt driving.
Appearances
Now age 30 Paul has over 20 years experience behind the wheel and employs a team of precision drivers.In recent years this team have revolutionised motoring events throughout the globe, with live action performances to take the breath away. Paul's involvement in motorshows and precision driving demonstrations across the globe has been extensive. Performing in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
for both TV and live motor theatre audiences in almost every car imaginable, Paul has earned himself a great deal of respect in the motorsport
Motorsport
Motorsport or motorsports is the group of sports which primarily involve the use of motorized vehicles, whether for racing or non-racing competition...
community.
He has appeared on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Top Gear television on a number of occasions, as well as being part of the Top Gear Live tour. Paul has recently been seen on TV programmes including Top Gear, Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear
Fifth Gear is a motoring television magazine show from the United Kingdom. Originally shown on Channel 5, the show is currently presented by Tiff Needell, Vicki Butler-Henderson, Jason Plato, Jonny Smith and Ben Collins...
and Guinness World Records Smashed
Guinness World Records Smashed
Guinness World Records Smashed is a British television show for Sky1, that features record attempts, celebrity guests and death-defying stunts...
. Some of his other clients include Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
, Audi
Audi
Audi AG is a German automobile manufacturer, from supermini to crossover SUVs in various body styles and price ranges that are marketed under the Audi brand , positioned as the premium brand within the Volkswagen Group....
, Ford
Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company is an American multinational automaker based in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. The automaker was founded by Henry Ford and incorporated on June 16, 1903. In addition to the Ford and Lincoln brands, Ford also owns a small stake in Mazda in Japan and Aston Martin in the UK...
, MINI
Mini
The Mini is a small car that was made by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1959 until 2000. The original is considered a British icon of the 1960s, and its space-saving front-wheel-drive layout influenced a generation of car-makers...
, Halfords
Halfords
Halfords Group plc is a leading retailer of car parts, car enhancements and bicycles operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Czech Republic and more recently in Poland, although it is currently pulling out of the latter two countries...
, Vodafone
Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc is a global telecommunications company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest mobile telecommunications company measured by revenues and the world's second-largest measured by subscribers , with around 341 million proportionate subscribers as of...
, Airbus
Airbus
Airbus SAS is an aircraft manufacturing subsidiary of EADS, a European aerospace company. Based in Blagnac, France, surburb of Toulouse, and with significant activity across Europe, the company produces around half of the world's jet airliners....
and Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film production and distribution company, located at 5555 Melrose Avenue in Hollywood. Founded in 1912 and currently owned by media conglomerate Viacom, it is America's oldest existing film studio; it is also the last major film studio still...
.