gearbox

The AA says the trend is being driven by the UK's ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars coming in 2030, as elecric cars do not have manual gearboxes.

It remains an open question whether the manual can mount a comeback in a world of increasing automation and electric drivetrains with single-speed gearboxes.

Inexperienced drivers can "wreck a gearbox and a clutch", Ms Howe said, adding that nerves may cause them to stall or cut out the engine.

Teams get penalised for more than the allocated engine or gearbox replacements.

He now works on the team that maintain the gearboxes for the helicopters flown by the Royal Navy and RAF.