Fast food! Professional racing champion, 26, swaps his sports car for a Tesco delivery van to supply groceries to Britons in isolation during coronavirus lockdown
- Josh Webster put the brakes on his career as he became a Tesco delivery driver
- Tesco bosses were urged to employ the 26-year-old when he applied last month
- He normally races at Silverstone but is now dropping off groceries in Suffolk
- Have you swapped jobs to become a delivery driver? Contact [email protected]
- Learn more about how to help people impacted by COVID
A British racing champion put the brakes on his track career – to sign up as a Tesco delivery driver.
Professional speedster Josh Webster swapped his sports car for a fridge van to help self-isolating Brits through the coronavirus crisis.
The 26-year-old race ace, who is used to flying around Silverstone at speeds of 180mph, is now dropping off groceries in Stowmarket, Suffolk.
Josh Webster, 26, has put the brakes on his racing career to become a Tesco delivery driver in Stowmarket, Suffolk, to help people self-isolating during lockdown
The Porsche Carrera Cup winner has been saluted for supporting his local community.
Announcing his first successful shift on Twitter, Josh told his fans: ‘Day 1 as a @Tesco Stowmarket Customer Delivery Driver is complete!
‘So much fun and so rewarding being able to help people and give a bit back to the community as well as keeping my income rolling in these tough times.
‘Grateful for the opportunity!’
The Porsche Carrera Cup winner was flooded with support, including one user who said: ‘Not many faster drivers out there. Safe pair of hands too.’
Josh, from Chelmsford, Essex, has raced across the world, including competing in the prestigious Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup.
He said he had an ‘absolute blast’ driving around Stowmarket in his 50mph-limited Mercedes Sprinter van.
Tesco bosses were urged to take him on when he applied for the immediate start job last month.
One said: ‘Not many faster drivers out there. Safe pair of hands too.’
Another said: ‘I mean, Josh, I’m not sure you’re qualified?’
He is used to flying around Silverstone at 180mph with Team Parker Racing but has joined Tesco to give back to the community and keep his income rolling in during lockdown
He normally races for Team Parker Racing and is a member of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC).
Tesco store manager Scott Garrod said he was ‘delighted’ to hire Josh.
He tweeted: ‘Not only for his driving skill but for the fantastic work he will do delivering shopping in the community to some of our vulnerable customers.
‘Very proud of my team at the moment in challenging times.’
BA First Officer Peter Login was saluted when he became a Tesco delivery driver last month. He is pictured with his partner Marianne Whiston, a front line worker at Basildon
Earlier this month, a British Airways pilot out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic also got a new job with Tesco.
Peter Login, a BA First Officer, was revealed to have swapped flying 747s to become a delivery driver.
BA has grounded all flights at Gatwick and dramatically cut its services at Heathrow, while pilots have been hit with a 50% pay cut for three months and told to take two weeks of unpaid leave in both April and May.
Peter tweeted: ‘@British_Airways #747 keys hung up for a while Back in the cockpit with @Tesco.’
Friends were quick to praise him, including Brad Tate, who wrote: ‘Shows a lot of character, Peter. I hope you’re back on the flight deck soon.’
In his tweet – which has gone viral getting over 7,000 likes – he joked about BA’s ‘To Fly To Serve’ motto – adding: ‘#EveryLittleHelps #ToDriveToServe #StayHomeStaySafe.’
- Have you swapped jobs to become a delivery driver? Contact [email protected]