Chris Russon will be the new man behind the wheel at Trinity Mirror's regional motoring content sharing service Driving Force, following the retirement of chief motoring editor David Whinyates.

Currently deputy motoring editor, Chris, (48), is based at the Birmingham Post & Mail and has been a member of the Driving Force team since its launch in 2002.

He is also a former news editor of The Birmingham Post and has specialised in motoring for 13 years.

Driving Force is the only formal company motoring content sharing service in the UK press, with more than 150 titles downloading motoring editorial from its dedicated intranet website.

It has been managed by David, (61), since it launch, but he has now decided to take his foot off the gas to spend more time with his family.

However, after a short sabbatical, he will renew his links with Driving Force as consultant motoring editor, working part-time in a freelance capacity and continuing to co-ordinate motoring editorial for the Evening Gazette where he has been motoring editor for 38 years.

The changes take effect from Monday, April 3.