Britain's booming car manufacturing industry has received yet another huge boost with three major manufacturers announcing UK investments worth more than £1 billion in the past six days.

Chris Armstrong has been nominated for this year's Motorsport Ireland Billy Coleman Young Rally Driver Award for his performances in January and February.

Projects that will bring fuel cells into van fleets, develop high efficiency transmissions and create the next generation of electric and hybrid buses are among the latest to receive money from the joint £1 billion government and industry fund.

Big John's, one of the best-known names in neighbourhood takeaway food in the Midlands, has placed an order of its own – for a fleet of 12 new Toyota Yaris.

The search is on for the country's best young driver – but the catch is they have to be aged under 17. The Young Driver Challenge 2015 launches this week and is backed by the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM). It offers 11-16 year olds the chance to show their skills behind the wheel of a car.

The Jaguar E-Type has been voted the UK's favourite classic car. The British-made sports car secured 14% of the votes in a nationwide independent survey conducted by The Car Buying Service.