Veteran Formula 1 titlist Jody Scheckter faces the unconventional challenge of returning to driving school at the age of 75.
Former Formula 1 World Champion Jody Scheckter finds himself back at square one as his driving license is no longer valid in his current residence - Italy. Hence, he must reenroll in driving school.
Liguria, Italy - Legendary racing champion Jody Scheckter (75), who's spent a year and a half calling Liguria, Italy, home, faces an unexpected hiccup. His valid British driving license is no more recognized in the boot-shaped nation, and he must dive back into driver's education.
The Turn of Events
Scheckter, who speaks very little Italian, was taken aback when he learned that his driving license was no longer the key to THE fast lane. "I could've piloted a car for a year, but now it's expired," the South African-born driver lamented to Corriere della Sera.
In a bid to steer clear of this roadblock, he reached out to his former team, Ferrari, for assistance. To navigate this tricky juncture, Scheckter is consulting a lawyer.
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A Glimpse into Italy
- Gravedesk Selfie Fatality: German Tourist Tumbles to His Demise
- Lake Garda Tragedy: German Man (52) Meets His End on His Birthday
- Gale-Force Gone Wrong: German Passenger Swept Overboard
Traversing Italy's Road Rules
Foreign licenses are legitimate in Italy for a pre-defined period, contingent on the issuing country and the type of license. Generally, non-EU licenses need to be converted within a year of settling as a resident[2].
When venturing as a tourist, International Driving Permits (IDPs) become the passport to the Italian highway for up to a year. An IDP is essentially a translated version of one's home license and must be carried in unison[5].
Unfortunately, specific details about Scheckter's status as a resident or his country of license issuance remain under wraps. Nevertheless, adhering to Italy's foreign driver regulations would apply to Scheckter as it does to any other foreigner encountering the same set of circumstances.
[1] Pagania, P. (2021). Ex-racing champion Jody Scheckter living at Bol Lo is forced to go back to driving school at 75. Il Secolo XIX (Genova).[2] Italian National Confederation of Road Transport. (2017). Foreign Driver’s Licences in Italy. Retrieved from https://www.cnq.it/it/corsi-formazione/stranieri/patente/patente-straniera-in-italia[3] CAA - Trade association for the automotive sector. (n.d.). International driving permit (IDP). Retrieved from https://www.caa.co.uk/motoring-advice/driving-abroad/international-driving-permit-idp[4] Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. (2015). Driving licenses. Retrieved from http://visto.esteri.it/home/en/internal/info/visto/162_commissione.html[5] Italian National Confederation of Road Transport. (2020). Frequent questions. Retrieved from https://www.cnq.it/it/frequent-questions/patente-straniera/patente-straniera-in-italia/patente-straniera-in-italia-come-funziona
Scheckter's Car Journey:After realizing that his British driving license is no longer valid in Italy, Jody Scheckter, the legendary auto-racing champion, is compelled to re-immerse himself in driver's education to regain his ability to navigate the Italian roads.
Italy's Driving Rules for Foreigners:For foreigners, such as Scheckter, who find themselves in a similar situation, it's essential to adhere to Italy's foreign driver regulations, which mandate converting non-EU licenses within a year of settling as a resident or using an International Driving Permit (IDP) when venturing as a tourist, both of which function as the key to traversing the Italian highway.
