- Sir Chris Hoy, Britain’s most successful Olympian, learns to drive Nissan JUKE on two wheels in just two days – a feat that would take most drivers about two months
- Two-wheel driving, or “skiing,” is a stunt made famous in James Bond films and is considered very difficult to master
- In June, Sir Chris competed successfully at the Le Mans 24 Hour Race, fulfilling a three-year journey with Nissan’s Advanced Driver Training Program, and achieving a personal lifelong ambition
- Chris Hoy: “When I caught the roll and was suddenly driving on two wheels it was such a rush of adrenaline and relief in equal measure – an amazing experience.”
LONDON – He may have retired from professional cycling, but Sir Chris Hoy has been spotted back on two wheels. The former-Olympian managed the tricky technique of two-wheel driving in a Nissan JUKE with just two days of instruction.
Under the guidance of world-record-breaking stuntman Terry Grant, Sir Chris spent one day at Silverstone Motor Circuit and another at Kendrew Barracks, learning to drive the specially modified Juke crossover.
Driving on two wheels or “skiing” is a stunt made famous over the years from James Bond films, Knight Rider and the Dukes of Hazzard amongst others. The activity requires precision, advanced handling techniques and a good deal of driver instinct.
On Sir Chris’ first day, a roll cage was fitted for cabin protection while a specially engineered stabilizer wheel on the outside prevented the car flipping onto its roof. After Grant demonstrated the required techniques, Hoy attempted the challenging stunt for the first time. After several attempts, the former Olympian was beginning to get the hang of it, even achieving a few controlled drives of short distances with just two wheels on the ground.
At the second session, Hoy’s confidence and consistency improved to the point where Grant was comfortable removing the stabilizer wheel. Despite the added pressure of having nothing to stop the vehicle rolling over, he quickly rose to the challenge, taking the ramp at the correct angle and velocity, catching the JUKE before it rolled over and then driving balanced on two wheels. In one of the following runs he even managed a 400-meter distance – an achievement that brought huge cheers from the watching team.
“Chris nailed it two for two,” said Grant. “Driving on two wheels in two days – most people would take two months to master that. I think it highlights his ability to soak up instruction and apply discipline to something that’s both mentally and physically challenging, of which he’s got plenty of experience. Operating under pressure and being in control at all times – they’re the skills you need for this stunt. To master it in such a short period of time though, I’m really impressed.”
Sir Chris added: “I loved it. I never thought it would be as much fun as it was, but I just wanted to keep going. On day one I felt like I was only getting a first foot on the ladder and it’d be weeks before I’d be driving without the safety net. Then today, when they took the stabilizer wheel off and there was the risk of rolling the car, the pressure didn’t get to me. I remembered Terry’s instructions and it all came together. When I caught the roll and was suddenly driving on two wheels it was such a rush of adrenaline and relief in equal measure – an amazing experience. Thanks to Terry and Nissan for allowing me to add another string to my driving bow.”
Terry Grant is no stranger to two-wheel driving. Amongst his impressive 23 Guinness World Records he holds the record for the fastest mile on two wheels, set in a Nissan Juke NISMO RS at Goodwood Festival in 2015.
Sir Chris Hoy is a Nissan Ambassador. Nissan is the Official Automotive Partner to Team GB and ParalympicsGB and will be giving a gold all-electric Nissan LEAF to its gold medal winning athlete ambassadors during the Rio 2016 Games. www.nissan.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
The Nissan JUKE used in the stunt was a standard production model with limited modifications to enable it to drive on two wheels. Modifications were made to the front differential to divert drive to the road wheel and to prevent the raised wheel from spinning. A different tire compound was used to enable a higher PSI level to be used. Other than that the vehicle used was a standard road car.
About Nissan in the UK
- Nissan Sunderland Plant produces the Nissan Qashqai, Note and Juke and the 100% electric Nissan LEAF
- Production of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles began in 2012
- Total plant volume since 1986 stands at more than eight million units with 80 per cent of production exported to 100 markets worldwide
- Total investment made and announced since then is over £3.6 billion
- 476,589 units were produced at Sunderland plant in 2015
- In 2015, one in three cars built in the UK was a Nissan.
- Sunderland Plant currently employs more than 6,700 people
- Nissan’s European Design Centre is located in Paddington, London and employs around 65 people
- Nissan’s European Technical Centre is based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and employs around 1,000 people
- Nissan’s sales and marketing headquarters in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire employs around 190 people
About Nissan in Europe
Nissan has one of the most comprehensive European presences of any overseas manufacturer, employing more than 17,000 staff across locally based design, research development, manufacturing, logistics and sales marketing operations. Last year Nissan plants in the UK, Spain and Russia produced more than 635,000 vehicles including award-winning crossovers, commercial vehicles and the Nissan LEAF, the world’s most popular electric vehicle. Pursuing a goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities on the road, Nissan recently announced its Intelligent Mobility vision. Designed to guide Nissan’s product and technology pipeline, this 360 degree approach to the future of mobility will anchor critical company decisions around how cars are powered, how cars are driven, and how cars integrate into society. Nissan is positioned to become the most desirable Asian brand in Europe.
http://www.newsroom.nissan-europe.com
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Contact
Dominic Vizor
Product Communications Manager, Nissan GB
dominic.vizor@nissan.co.uk
Telephone: +44(0)1923 899938 (M:+44(0)7580 999016)