Young racing driver supports campaign to cut drink-drive toll

Kent Cross, of Australia, is a double Formula Vee champion and recently moved from Australia to the UK to pursue his racing career and immediately contacted the Brighouse-based Campaign Against Drinking and Driving charity.

Carole Whittingham, chairwoman of CADD, said she and her fellow trustees were delighted to have the teenager on board.

She said: “For a young man to ask how he can help our campaign is heart-warming.

“He recognised that the biggest percentage of drink-drive accidents/deaths in Britain are caused by young men and suggested that he may be able to appeal to young drivers by publicising the dangers through his motor racing.

“I was immediately struck by Kent’s maturity and the reasons behind his enthusiasm for our work.”

The aspiring F1 driver, who will turn 18 later this month, has already suffered the heartache of losing three of his friends in separate road accidents. The first resulted in the deaths of four young people, who together with the driver of the vehicle, had all been partying that night.

Kent, a British citizen, is aiming to race in Formula Renault this year and will be proudly wearing the CADD logo on his race suit. It will also feature on his car, new website, social media site and all other promotional material.

Kent said: “This is a cause that is close to my heart and I feel honoured to be representing such a necessary campaign.

The focus on drink-driving is always heightened at Christmas, but accidents happen throughout the year and I hope that through a nine month racing season I can help to maintain awareness longer term.”