| News
- Updated
10th January 2010 |
| Swift
returns to rallying action |
Paul
Swift is making his motorsport return this Christmas
as Croft Circuit hosts two of the UK’s finest
tarmac rallies. Swift, from Darlington, will drive
in the Specsavers Christmas Stages Rally on January
2nd
and the Cartersport Jack Frost Rally on January
17th. He’ll be at the wheel of a Ford Escort
RS2000 with local co-driver Andrew Lees on navigating
duty.
Swift won seven national Autotest
Championships and competed in the Northern Saloon
and Sports Car Championship and Peugeot 206
Supercup before quitting in 2007 to concentrate
on his display and stunt driving commitments,
These days he performs all over the world as
lead driver for the Top Gear Live tour.
“Next year were performing
in Amsterdam, Australia, New Zealand & South
Africa. I’m doing a lot of work for Ford
too, driving the new Focus RS. That’s
how I’ve come to drive the Mk1 RS2000
that I’ll be using at Croft.
“Croft will actually work out as a great
shakedown for the car as we hope to include
it in our 2010 shows, (the old RS2000 and the
new Focus RS side by side.). Because were using
a brand new engine we have to get at least 200
miles on the clock before we compete with it,
so I’ll be giving passenger rides for
England over the next two weeks,”
he quipped.
“I love driving rear-wheel cars so
it should be fun. We’re not expecting
to set the world alight at Croft but hopefully
we’ll entertain a few people.”
Swift, a passionate supporter
of local motorsport, also has another reason
for wanting to compete at Croft.
The venue was hit by a High Court order which
restricted the number of events which can take
place there.
“We want to play our
part in showing that motorsport is a popular
pastime and that it’s not anti-social,”
he said.
“People should come along and support
the event to prove that point.”
Swift and Lees have attracted
several sponsors for their rally programme and
would like to say a big thank to the following
people for their support.
• Smith and Allan Oils
• Smart Independent Financial Advisors
• Evalu8ted - Training and Coaching Specialists
• Kendrick Motorcycles
• Motoscope – Northallerton
• 3M Peltor
• Cleveland Motor homes
• A1 Windscreens
• Sign Design
• French Tune
The team will be also be raising
money for the Maximum Attack for Leukaemia Research
charity.
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| See
the Team perform Live |
In
2008 Top Gear made its LIVE debut on the World
Stage. Featuring breath-taking stunts, amazing
special effects and blockbusting driving sequences
with some of the world’s best precision
drivers, the event became one of the most highly
anticipated and talked about motoring events in
the World.
The Paul Swift Precision Driving Team have been
rehearsing brand new sequences throughout the
summer to bring you the very best in live action
motoring theatre.
Top
Gear Live World Tour
London, Earls Court
Dublin, RDS
Amsterdam, Rai
Cape Town, The Grand Arena at Grand West
Jo’burg, Coca Cola Dome
Sydney, Acer Arena
Auckland, ASB Showgrounds
Hong Kong,
Tickets
are now on sale from http://live.topgear.com
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| Have
you seen the new Volkswagen Golf ad? |
| Some
sharp eye’d TV viewers amongst you may
have noticed Paul starring in a new Volkswagen
Golf advert which was launched earlier this
month.
The
ad, created by DDB and directed by Seb Edwards
is designed to reinforce the Golf’s long-standing
position as the benchmark in its class and shows
a variety of everyday scenes where people reference
the car when talking about other hatchbacks.
For instance, an opportunistic car salesman
who assures a potential buyer that the doors
on his hatchback “sound just like a Golf”
when they close. Paul is seen in the commercial
wrestling with a hatchback car around a test
track whilst comparing its handling against
the New Golf.
The
ad which continues to run ends with the line
“Why drive something like a Golf, when
you can drive a Golf for only £13,585??
To
view to ad click the Youtube link below or visit
our Videos
page.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVfO5zIBNvc
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| Our
NEW Focus RS arrives |
PSPD
are delighted to announce the addition of the
new Ford Focus RS into our 2009 events. The car
which is kindly provided by the Ford Motor Company
will now feature alongside the all new fiesta
in our future events. The new three-door hatchback
RS has a 2.5-litre 300-hp Volvo five-cylinder
turbocharged engine with 325 lb-ft of torque.
This
is the first time that anyone has tried to channel
300 bhp through the front wheels of a mass-produced
car, and Ford worked with Quaife on a new differential
to lessen torque steer. It also developed a
front suspension joint known as "RevoKnuckle,"
which reduces kingpin offset-angle variations.This
is a genuine driver’s car, as standard
it comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, 336mm
ventilated front brakes and recaro seats. Performance
data makes impressive reading, with a top speed
of 163 mph, 0-to-62-mph acceleration in 5.9
seconds.
On
the outside, the Focus gets a host of wings,
spoilers and extra grilles. The stylish rear
roof spoiler sets the tone and is complimented
with side vents and all-in-one lower grille.
Riding on 19-inch aluminium wheels with mega
looking, 35-series Pirelli tyres, the RS is
a serious piece of kit.
Pictures
of the car in action are to follow very soon. |
| The
Official Scottish Motorshow in association with
Ford |
| The
spectacular ‘MotorFair’, the Official
Scottish Motor Show, endorsed by the Scottish
Motor Trade Association took place at Knockhill
Racing Circuit, near Dunfermline.
Now
in its 6th year, the show, which provides a
great day out for the whole family is firmly
established as a ‘must do’ with
its varied and exciting content.
Making
their first public appearance in the all new
Ford Fiesta’s the team entertained the
crowds through-out the weekend with some breathtaking
driving sequences. Please click links below
for Youtube videos.
| Youtube
Video #1 |
Youtube
Video #2 |
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| New
Guinness World Record!!!! 3rd May 2009 |
Paul
and Konnie celebrating the success World
Record attempt |
|
Paul
with his Guinness World Records certificate |
We
are celebrating this week after successfully
smashing the Guinness World record for the most
cars simultaneously doughnuting.
The
announcement follows the screening of the record
tonight on the Guinness World Records
Smashed programme on Sky
1.
The
team were asked by the programme to train former
Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq in the art of
doughnutting to enable her to be part of the
record attempt. Paul commented: “Konnie
took to the challenge like a duck to water and
with over two dozen willing drifting enthusiasts
on hand we successfully smashed the previous
record of 12 cars with a whopping 29.”
We
hope to have the video up here very soon so
please stay tuned! |
| Top
Gear Live Tour 2009 |
| Paul
and the team have just returned home following
gruelling 5 week world tour with Top Gear Live.The
tour commenced in Johnnesburg in South Africa
for the 3rd time in as many years. After 10
successful shows, the team then flew onto Sydney,
Auckland & Hong Kong to perform a further
28 live performances to over 250,000 people.
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| Guinness
World Records - on Sky 1 3rd May!!! |
Paul
has just returned from filming an attempt to
break the Guinness World Record for the most
amount of cars simultaneously doughnutting.
Find out if Paul & Konnie Hug (Blue Peter)
succeed in their world record attempt on the
Guinness World Records smashed programme due
to be screened on Sky 1 on Sunday the 3rd of
May at 6pm. Click
HERE
for the Press Release |
| Paul
with Mark Foster |
Click
here
to see Paul featuring in the current series
of 5th Gear, along with Olympic swimmer and
Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Foster. |
| Paul
gives celebrity X-Factor Finalists a thrill to
remember for Nickelodeon’s Kids TV Choice
Awards |
| X
Factor finalists Sarah & Sean Smith (better
know as Same difference) get slimed by stunt
driver Paul Swift for Nickelodeons Kids TV choice
awards.
It
was a competition to see who could keep the
most slime in there bucket.... "sounds
easy" But oh no.... they had to hold the
bucket of slime while skidding and sliding and
turning and twisting...Sarah was petrified at
even getting into the car, let alone holding
a bucket of slime while doing it!
Then
came the time to be strapped into the car! Sean
was a gentleman and let Sarah go first! Lol!
The car ride was hilarious! The bucket of slime
was flying everywhere and Sarah was screaming
at the top of her voice! However Sean got more
slime in his face than Sarah as she told the
Paul to do a backwards flip manoeuvre first!
Grrr!
Same
difference commented “Overall it was possibly
one of the funniest days of our lives and we
had a brilliant time”. At the end of the
day it was time to see who had kept the most
slime in the bucket... click HERE
to view the video or tune into the nickelodeon
kids choice awards to see the full show!
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