PICTURED: Paddy Hopkirk, left, instructor John Dowell, and Patrick Hopkirk
PROVING he is a chip off the old block, Patrick Hopkirk, son of rally legend Paddy Hopkirk, has gone one better than his famous father by passing his IAM RoadSmart advanced driving test for the third time.
Patrick, 46, first passed his advanced driving test at the age of 19 in a Citroen 2CV – and did it again at 35.
Patrick said: “This is really a revision of what I had already learnt – it really is important to keep updating your driving skills. I rediscovered how important mirrors are, of reading the road ahead, assessing what I had and then acting on it.”
Patrick, who is a sales representative and drives more than 18,000 miles a year, added: “People should take the advanced test every five years.”
Meanwhile, dad Paddy, who is a household name having taken part in races all over the world including the gruelling London-Sydney Marathon, Le Mans 24 Hours and Daytona, has taken the IAM RoadSmart advanced test twice, most recently in June 2016.
Just recently Paddy has been appointed President of the BRDC (British Racing Drivers’ Club) taking over from former Formula 1 driver Derek Warwick.
For more information about the advanced driver course, which costs £149, click here
