The final of the inaugural contest was held at the Highland Motorsport Park at Cromwell and Mr Duncan was one of 22 young people aged 18 to 25 who were nominated by their employers to take part.
The event was organised by Central Otago community road safety adviser Jo Robinson in conjunction with police, businesses, car enthusiasts and the New Zealand Transport Agency. The drivers faced two days of skills training and competition.
Mr Duncan (21), an apprentice auto electrician, of Alexandra, said he had been driving since he was about 12, as he grew up on a Chatto Creek farm.
''I've definitely improved my skills through this, definitely learnt a lot of things and I'd definitely recommend this to others. It's been a lot of fun, I've learnt things and along the way, I've been allowed to put a few cars sideways and got to drive on the racetrack.''
Southern district road policing manager Inspector Andrew Burns described the contest as ''one of the best things I've seen, targeting an at-risk group of drivers, young people in the workforce who have left school and have some disposable income.''
The contest gave them more skills to be as safe as possible on the roads, he said. Inspector Burns, who is also the acting area commander of rural Otago, praised Mrs Robinson, who was the ''driving force behind this contest.
She grabbed the idea, pushed it and developed it''. The motorsport park was the perfect venue and changed the event from something good to something ''professionally good'', he said.
Competitors all said the event taught them a lot. Alesha Romano (18), of Alexandra, said after her experience in the contest and what she had learnt, she planned to ''buy a safer car''.
Mitch Stringer (20), of Alexandra said it was good to be able to test his skills in a safe environment - ''it's been well worth it.''
Kelsey de Koning was named most improved driver.
Among the topics covered in the contest were changing a tyre, fitting snow chains, comparing legally and illegally modified cars, reversing covered and uncovered trailers, completing an emergency stop and learning about anti-skid braking systems and kinetic energy.
