A 14-YEAR-OLD girl from Bromsgrove has made the finals of a national driving contest, despite being three years too young to legally take to the roads.

Sophie Sprigg, who lives in Hollywood, overtook hundreds of under-17s in the first rounds of the Young Driver Challenge 2017 at Stoneleigh Park, and is now one of just 40 finalists set to battle it out for the title of 'Britain's Best Young Driver'.

Woodrush High School student Sophie said: "I am so excited to have made the final of the Young Driver Challenge. I received some Young Driver lessons as a Christmas present when I was 13 and started my first lessons at the NEC, progressing to Stoneleigh on the advice of my instructor.

"By having these lessons I feel I am gaining confidence and experience before I take to the road. The instructor makes it a fun experience and gives me advice at the end of each lesson on how I can improve for next time.

"I always come away feeling confident and that I have achieved something to proud of.

"My favourite thing to do there is parallel parking."

Sophie has so far had her skills assessed by one of country's top driving instructors, and will get behind the wheel again in the contest's final round at Birmingham's NEC on September 30.

Finalists will compete in two age categories - 10 to 13 and 14 to 16, while being scored by judges on positioning, judgement, steering, independent driving and manoeuvres.

The winner will be awarded pre and post-17 driving lessons.

Laura White, head of marketing at the Young Driver Challenge, said: "Congratulations to Sophie. We look forward to seeing her at the final, which is the highlight of our calendar.

"The skills these youngsters show behind the wheel is extraordinary. They really would put some of the drivers out there on the roads to shame."

Visit youngdriver.com for more information.