Hilary shows it’s never too late to drive a racing car

Hilary Stevens has realised a dream to drive a race car thanks to the Never Too Late feature on Mustard TV's The Mustard Show. The feature is in conjunction with the Hostry Festival and has been sponsored by Tingdene. Photo: Mustard TV. (Image: Archant)

Mrs Stevens, who until recently ran the Beaumaris Hotel in Sheringham with her husband Alan, is the latest person to take part in the Never Too Late feature on The Mustard Show.

The feature, which is being run in conjunction with the Hostry Festival and sponsored by Tingdene, is all about showing it is never to late for older people to have a go at something they have always wanted to do.

Last week viewers saw 81-year-old Jean Campling, from Tasburgh, go abseiling, and tonight people will be able to watch 58-year-old Mrs Stevens drive a racing car around Snetterton Circuit.

Mrs Stevens, who has two sons, Jonathan and Matthew, said when she was 17 and learning to drive she dreamed of going to the Jim Russell Racing School but that it never became a reality.

Hilary Stevens has realised a dream to drive a race car thanks to the Never Too Late feature on Mustard TV's The Mustard Show. The feature is in conjunction with the Hostry Festival and has been sponsored by Tingdene. Photo: Mustard TV. (Image: Archant)

So decades later she jumped at the chance to drive a race car on the Never Too Late feature.

'It was wonderful. My instructor was just great. He took me round the track a couple of times first and actually, on the second lap he did, I thought I am never going to be able to go that fast!'

But once Mrs Stevens took the driving seat she was in her element.

'I went round the corners much quicker than I thought I would do,' she said, adding that she would love to do some more racing in the future.

Hilary Stevens has realised a dream to drive a race car thanks to the Never Too Late feature on Mustard TV's The Mustard Show. The feature is in conjunction with the Hostry Festival and has been sponsored by Tingdene. Photo: Mustard TV. (Image: Archant)

'It's just great that Mustard gave me the chance to have a go. It was a great day.'

Never Too Late will feature on The Mustard Show on Mustard TV tonight at 6.30pm. The six-part feature series is aired every Wednesday on The Mustard Show.

In October the six Never Too Late participants will also feature in a live event at Norwich Cathedral's Hostry as part of the Hostry Festival. For more information about the Hostry Festival, visit www.hostryfestival.org