Five has signed up former the founder and former owner of Jordan Grand Prix Eddie Jordan for a series in which he mentors eight car criminals.
The five, hour-long programmes will observe eight young men between the ages of 18 and 22, undergoing a seven week course run by Mr Jordan who will give them expert coaching in motoring and mechanical skills in a bid to keep them out of prison.
If successful, the men, many of whom have already spent time in a young offender's institution, will gain a basic mechanic's qualification that should enable them to work in the motor industry. The series will also see Mr Jordan attempt to build a race team.
The men who really stand out and prove that they are serious about putting their criminal lives behind them will face a further challenge as they are assessed by Honda for a potential place on the company's award-winning three-year Apprentice Technician programme.
The channel is understood to be planning to show the as yet unnamed series in the autumn. According to channel insiders, five has been keen to follow in the footsteps of similar Channel 4 shows such as Jamie's School dinners and Jamie's Kitchen which have provided entertainment with a social conscience. Jamie's School Dinners also last week won the best documentary series award at the Royal Television Society Awards.
Eddie Jordan said of the project, which is produced by Zigzag and is the first TV involvement for his newly launched media company Jordan Media: "I am deeply committed to exploring the issue of joy riding. We need to understand that social deprivation, lack of family structure and the boys failure to engage in the traditional education system can leave them with little positive choices in life.
"I'm not afraid to tackle these issues head-on. I'm keen to show them that there's an alternative career to that of crime. I demand hard-work, honesty and perseverance and, in return, am offering them the opportunity to change their lives."
Justine Kershaw, Controller of Science for Five who commissioned the series added: "I'm thrilled that a major figure in motor sport like Eddie Jordan is involved in this great project. We're very excited about the series, which promises to be hard hitting, exciting and have a big impact on these young men's lives".
