In the high-stakes world of professional darts, where a single arrow can rewrite history, Luke Littler has proven himself a prodigy with nerves of steel. At just 18, the teenager from Warrington has stormed the oche like a force of nature, clinching the World Darts Championship title in January as the youngest winner ever and pocketing over £1.5 million in prize money along the way. His meteoric rise—from teenage sensation to reigning world No. 2—has fans chanting “The Nuke” in arenas worldwide. But amid the glory of majors and million-pound hauls, Littler faced a humbler battle: conquering the UK’s notoriously tricky driving test. After a comedic string of setbacks behind the wheel of a theory simulator, the dartboard dynamo has finally shifted into drive, passing his practical exam on the first go with a flawless zero faults. Now, with license in hand, he’s revving up for his £30,000 dream car—and a newfound slice of teenage freedom.
Littler’s journey to the open road was anything but a straight shot. Earlier this year, as he dazzled crowds at the Premier League and racked up ranking titles, the teen grappled with the Highway Code in a way that even his sharpest opponents couldn’t match. He famously bombed his driving theory test not once, not twice, but a whopping six times, turning what should have been a routine hurdle into a saga of stubborn determination. “I did do a theory the other week but I didn’t put it on my Instagram,” he confessed in September, with a wry grin that hinted at the frustration bubbling beneath his cool exterior. “Oh, it was a bad one—I’ll let you know that.” Each failure was a gut punch for the kid who’d just toppled darts legends like Michael van Gerwen and Luke Humphries. Yet, true to form, Littler bounced back. On his seventh attempt, he scraped through with the bare minimum: 43 out of 50 on the multiple-choice questions—just enough to edge past the pass mark. His hazard perception score, though, was a brighter spot at 63 out of 75, a testament to the quick reflexes that make him untouchable at the board.
That September breakthrough felt like sweet revenge. Littler couldn’t hide his glee, posting a triumphant snap of his results letter on social media with the cheeky caption: “We will have a look, of course we will have a look!”—punctuated by a flurry of dancing emojis. It was a small win, but for an 18-year-old suddenly navigating fame, fortune, and a packed tournament schedule, it meant everything. No longer grounded by paperwork, he could finally eye the practical test. And when that day came last week in his hometown of Warrington, Littler channeled the same laser focus he brings to the triple-20. Behind the wheel of a learner car, he navigated roundabouts, obeyed speed limits, and handled maneuvers without a single hiccup—zero driving faults, first time out. His instructor at Colin Price Driving School was effusive, sharing the news on Instagram: “Congratulations to Luke Littler on passing his driving test today at Warrington on his first attempt with ZERO driving faults. Absolutely amazing achievement, well done—now enjoy that car!”
“Get innnn,” Littler fired back on his own story, echoing the ecstatic roar of darts fans after a nine-darter. It was pure elation, the kind that comes from ticking off a long-delayed box in a life accelerating faster than any sports car. And speaking of cars, Littler’s windfall from the oche has long fueled fantasies of four-wheeled freedom. Back in January, fresh off his world title triumph and £500,000 payday, he let slip his automotive ambitions during a post-match chat. “I’ve always loved a Mercedes A-Class—just a small car,” he said, his voice bubbling with boyish excitement. “Last year I was looking at driving and I loved Ford Focuses. But now I’ve gone up in the world a little. What model? No idea—just an A-Class. I don’t know the different models.” At around £30,000, the sleek Mercedes represents more than luxury; it’s a symbol of the independence he’s craved since bursting onto the scene at 16. He’d even joked about the timeline earlier: “I’m going to have to do my lessons before I get into my twenties when it’ll be too late and I can’t be bothered. It won’t be a birthday present. I think it would be a birthday present from me to me.”
But Littler’s not waiting around. In a twist that adds to his relatable charm, he’d already splashed out on a set of wheels months ago, parking it in anticipation of this very moment. “I’ve got a car—and it’s not a Mercedes—but it’s sat there waiting,” he revealed recently, the impatience in his tone mirroring the darts fan’s agony during a tight leg. Now, with his provisional license upgraded to full, that garage dweller can finally hit the tarmac. It’s a timely upgrade, too. Just days before his test triumph, Littler endured a maddening traffic snarl on the M6—a fatal incident that jammed the motorway and left him sprinting late to a Players Championship event in Wigan. He missed registration by minutes, fuming on Instagram: “Not the best day today but played some decent stuff, but really glad to hear from a few of the other players that people have been let in almost half an hour late for a pro tour but I can’t be two minutes late. Says a lot, one rule for one and one for another.” No more hitching rides or cursing sat-navs; from here on, “The Nuke” calls the shots on the road.
This driving milestone slots perfectly into Littler’s whirlwind year, blending the everyday grind with his extraordinary ascent. He’s fresh off defending his Grand Slam of Darts crown in October, where he demolished Martin Lukeman 16-3 in the final for his first major ranking title. This weekend, he’ll roll up to the Grand Slam in Wolverhampton—perhaps behind the wheel himself—for another shot at glory. And come December 11, Alexandra Palace awaits for the World Darts Championship, where he’ll defend his Ally Pally throne amid the festive frenzy. At 18, most lads are dodging exams or flipping burgers; Littler is juggling multimillion-pound endorsements, global travel, and now, the thrill of cruising solo. His story isn’t just about arrows and averages—it’s about a kid from a quiet Cheshire town rewriting the rules of what’s possible, one perfect pass at a time.
As he guns for that Mercedes, fans can’t help but smile. In a sport of precision and poise, Littler’s off-board adventures remind us he’s still very much the wide-eyed teen who once dreamed of Fords before upgrading his horizons. With the road ahead clear and the engine purring, “The Nuke” is primed for whatever curveballs come next—whether on blacktop or baize. Buckle up; this ride’s just getting started.
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