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Winning Words from World Champion!

Four lucky Milton Keynes Academy students attended the launch of Mercedes Benz Driving Academy, the car brand’s very own driving school and got to spend time with Formula One hero, Lewis Hamilton!

On 30 May, the official launch event took place in the company of Mercedes-Benz Driving Academy ambassador and 2008 Formula 1™ World Champion, Lewis Hamilton.  The Grand Prix star has been a supporter of the pioneering steps that Mercedes-Benz has taken to target road safety among young drivers, which includes learning to drive earlier, in a safe and controlled environment, to create a new generation of safe and responsible drivers.

Danielle Reece, Georgia Dunsford and Amber McQueen from Year 9 and Andrew McGill from Year 11 travelled to the famous Silverstone FI track where they heard Lewis talk about the importance of staying true to your ambitions and never giving up even when you find yourself at the back of the grid.  Danielle asked Lewis what inspired him to become a Formula One driver and he replied that Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna had been an important role model, he admired him for his professionalism and his flare.  In turn, Danielle felt that Lewis’s words had inspired her to start working towards her future goals now rather than leaving it to the future.

The students then each had a driving lesson with driving instructors who will work at the Driving Academy.  Each student was given some brief instructions and then took to the track, Danielle found the experience ‘very smooth ... as I am only fourteen, I was surprised I did so well – it was a life-changing experience’.  All four students met Lewis and had the chance to chat and gain autographed pictures.

The students felt that they had had a once in a lifetime experience, Amber commented that the whole afternoon had made her feel really special.