Paul Swift is a British stunt driver who works in

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 (usually marked o ...

, precision driving, and live-action arena and

motor show An auto show, also known as a motor show or car show, is a public exhibition of current automobile models, debuts, concept cars, or out-of-production classics. It is attended by automotive industry representatives, dealers, auto journalists a ...

s, including the UK Motorshow and Top Gear Live. He is the son of British stunt driver

Russ Swift Paul Russell "Russ" Swift (born 24 March 1951) is a British driver who is known for performing stunts and for precision driving. Career Starting out as a rally co-driver, and later moving into the sport of Autotesting, Russ Swift has built his c ...

Career

Swift started his stunt driving career at the age of seven, when he learned to drive his family’s ride-on-lawn-mower on two wheels. Within three months he had set a world record performing the stunt over a distance of 230m. His first precision driving show was as part of his father's display team in a Miniature Rover Montego at the

British Grand Prix The British Grand Prix is a Grand Prix motor racing event organised in the United Kingdom by Motorsport UK. First held by the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) in 1926 British Grand Prix, 1926, the British Grand Prix has been held annually since 1948 ...

Silverstone Silverstone is a village and civil parish in the West Northamptonshire unitary authority area of Northamptonshire, England. The village is about south-southwest of Towcester and northeast of Brackley, both accessed via the A43 road, A43 main ...

. At age 16, Swift began competing in auto testing with both Durham and Hartlepool motor clubs. He won the regional championship in 1998 and later competed in national auto testing, going on to win over 40 events outright, including seven national titles. Swift would also represent England. In 2006, Swift became the first Englishman to win a round of the Northern Irish Autotest Championship, driving a borrowed Mini Special. The following season, after winning his seventh British Championship, Swift announced his retirement from auto testing and left his job as a mechanical engineer to concentrate on stunt driving. Swift operates a precision driving experience/stunt driving company called Paul Swift Productions.

Appearances

Swift has appeared on

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

Top Gear Top Gear may refer to: * "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission Television * ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme * ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the ori ...

television on a number of occasions, and led the Top Gear Live stunt team for seven years. He has appeared on television programs including ''Britain’s Got Talent'', ''Emmerdale'', ''

Fifth Gear ''Fifth Gear'' is a British motoring television magazine series which has been broadcast since 2002. Originally shown on Channel 5 from 2002 to 2011 (and branded as ''5th Gear'' until 2005), it began as a continuation of the original version ...

'', and ''

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. A one-off pilot episode was transmitted on 23 November 2008, and a full 10-part series was broad ...

''.

References

External links

www.stuntdriving.co.uk
{{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, Paul British stunt performers Living people 1979 births Sportspeople from Darlington English rally drivers