NEW Formula One World Champion Jenson Button failed his driving test in Wiltshire on the first attempt.

After just five lessons, Button failed his test for driving too close to a parked car in Trowbridge when he was 17-years-old.

Driving instructor Roger Brunt, who taught Button, said he managed to pass on the second attempt but was a star pupil.

“He took his test after five lessons and failed because he got too close to a parked car on a very narrow street in Trowbridge,” he said.

“He had one more lesson and then passed. His father brought him to me and asked me to teach him to drive, and told Jenson to listen to what I say and he did.

“Jenson was a very good pupil, he wasn’t a boy racer but he had a quick mind and was very concentrated.

“He was driving go-karts from the age of eight so it didn’t take much to teach him how to drive a car.

“He’s the biggest success story from my driving school.

“All he talked about was being an F1 driver and being the world champion, his dreams have come true.”

Mr Brunt, who still runs his driving school in Trowbridge, added: “It’s a fantastic moment for Jenson and his family, I wasn’t a fan of F1 until Jenson became a driver but since then I’ve been on the edge of my seat.”

The 29-year-old from Frome, Somerset, recovered from 14th to finish fifth in the Brazilian Grand Prix in Sao Paulo to succeed compatriot Lewis Hamilton and become Britain’s 10th world champion on Sunday.

After watching the ‘Frome Flyer’s’ win Mr Brunt called Button’s father, John.

He said: “I have known John for many years – since before Jenson was born. We used to do rally cross all over the world.

“I called John to say congratulations, he was too busy celebrating but I could hear his phone ringing on the TV.”

Button started his career at the Clay Pigeon Kart Club, in Evershot, Dorset, where he raced karts from the age of eight until he moved on to cars.

Chairman of the club Mike Wellington said: “We have just sent Jenson an email wishing him congratulations from the club.

“He won in his first year as a cadet and very quickly went on to win British and European championships in karting.

“I’m sure when he first sat in a kart he never thought he would achieve F1 World Champion, it was a dream and good on him for doing it.

“We are very proud of our association with him from his earliest days of racing, he still recognises that he started his career here.”

Mr Wellington said the club was now considering a karting school to potentially foster more F1 champions of the future.