Brits on Pole

Our top 10 wild and wicked driving days

Watch enough racing and – sooner or later – the urge will come upon you to have a go in a fast car yourself. One of the easiest ways to do this is through one of the hundreds of different driving experiences on offer on circuits around the UK.

We’ve had a look at what’s available from five different retailers – while locking the credit cards in a drawer – and have made a list that’s intended to give you an overview of the wide variety of rides you can try. Whether it’s a sleek supercar, a robust rally car, a classic, a kart or even a tank, there should be an experience for every taste. And pocket – they start at less than £100 and go up to north of £1,000.

Bear in mind that many driving experiences have age, clothing, height or weight requirements, or may be dependent on the weather, so you need to check out the description and terms and conditions for each one carefully on the retailer’s own website before booking. The list below is intended as a general guide to what’s available, not the final word. You’ll also have to take your full UK driving licence along with you on the day.

Formula One driving experience from Red Letter Days – £1,499

This is the grand-daddy of driving experiences (as reflected in the price) – starting with a briefing and demo laps in a saloon car at your chosen track. Then get behind the wheel for up to 17 laps of a single-seater Formula Ford or five laps in a Porsche 911 (depending on venue). Now the bit you came for – eight laps in a Tyrell, or ten laps in a Forti-Corse or 1994 Arrows FA14, again depending on venue. Lunch, memorabilia and an F1 certificate are included, plus dinner and overnight accommodation for two.

Ferrari 430 Scuderia Plus Experience from Thruxton Motorsport Centre – £349

Try out arguably the closest thing to a road-legal racing sports car with outstanding straight-line performance. The experience includes a briefing and passenger laps before having a crack at the brand-new Porsche Cayman, you know, just to get the hang of the track. Then it’s behind the wheel of the Ferrari 430 Scuderia for something truly memorabl. After the Ferrari you can wind down with a Formula Renault single-seater. A down-to-earth note: this experience is at the upper end of the range on offer – because otherwise, why choose Ferrari? – but Thruxton do offer several more modest packages if the pricetag is a bit steep.

Full-day rallying experience from Buyagift – £345

This is full-on – involving a six-hour course starting at 8.30am, so it’s a fantastic one to do if rallying is your passion. (Can you tell that we fancy this?) A briefing and then’s straight into the driving seat to learn how to do those epic slides and cornering manoeuves, starting with a practice lap then jacking the pace up. A break and then you’re back for a second session. Then test your performance against the clock, and finish up with a passenger ride, a debriefing and a certificate.

Car crushing (using a tank) from Activity Superstore – £299

This does exactly what it says on the tin. There’s a a car and a tank. You sit in the tank and drive it over the car. It might not be the fastest you’ll ever go, but we are certain that it will be extremely satisfying nevertheless. For the enthusiast: the military vehicles in question are the Ferret, capable of travelling at 50mph in reverse, the FV432, described as a squaddies’ favourite, and the Stalwart, built to carry up to five tonnes of cargo. Includes safety briefing and certificate – oh, and a bit of driving in addition to the car crushing. Or maybe tank paintball is more your thing.

Aston Martin V8 Vantage Plus Experience from Thruxton Motorsport Centre – £285

The Aston Martin V8 Vantage is a classic English supercar with no spoilers or scoops, just a 4.3-litre V8 engine that comes life with a push of the starter button. Get your eye in with four laps in the Porsche Cayman before progressing to the main attraction. After the Aston Martin, cool down with a ride in a single-seater.

Classic Sports Car Driving Experience from Red Letter Days – £279

Visit either Mallory Park in Leicestershire or Goodwood in Sussex to drive some beautiful racing classics. Options, which depend on venue, include a MkII Jaguar, an Aston Martin DB4 or DB6 Vantage, an E-type Jag, a Le Mans ‘D’ Type Jag, a Porsche 911 Carrera RS and an AC Cobra replica.The Mallory Park package includes a driving assessment and certificate while at Goodwood there are briefing and instruction laps plus a passenger ride.

Lotus Exige at Silverstone from Virgin Experience Days – £169

This is one for people serious about what it’s like to race. The Exige is the genuine article – a mid-engine sports coupé that offers balanced downforce for exceptional speed and safety. It offers a top speed of 147mph with a six-speed gearbox – allowing you to get a feel for the sort of conditions drivers experience on the racetrack. The experience includes a briefing, four and then five more laps in the Exige, a 1-lap high-speed passenger ride, a debrief and a certificate.

Extreme Dodgems (stock car racing) from Buyagift – £149

Your chance to go racing! With professional drivers and officials on hand to help you get to grips with race-prepared 1300cc Saloon Stockcars. This banger racing experience will allow you to compete in at least two heats (following a practice lap) and a championship final. The retailer promises guaranteed dodgem racing fun – and, come on, who could really resist?

Lamborghini Thrill from Virgin Experience Days – £99

Be at the head of the A-list – the Lambo is the stunning plaything of the super-rich, not forgetting its awesome power and super-fast acceleration. On offer for this experience is a rare treat – the new Lamborghini Gallardo E Gear with all-wheel drive, an aluminium chassis, a hefty 5-litre 500bhp V10 powerplant and paddle-shift transmission. It’s so desirable it’ll make your teeth ache. The experience includes a briefing from a race driving instructor, demonstration laps and four laps in the Lambo topped off with a souvenir certificate.

Mini Thrill from Activity Superstore – £99

The Mini’s been a much-appreciated racer since the 60s – and the latest model is no exception. The fast-cornering favourite is famous for its manoeuverability, will do 0-60 in five seconds and is able to exceed speeds of 130mph – so having a go in one is a proper challenge. Each session normally starts with an introduction and safety briefing while some locations offer demonstration laps and passenger rides.

Not hardcore enough?

Ten great driving experiences – but what if all these supercars really aren’t your thing? Well, if it’s near-the-knuckle open-wheel action you’re looking for, you could do much worse than go karting. Activity Superstore has a whole range of activities for you.

Progressing to the single-seaters, there’s a Silverstone experience which aims to scratch the itch.

Or, if you fancy really seeing how you shape up against the sort of drivers we cover on this site, and don’t mind paying a few hundred pounds for the experience, try a Formula Three day at Three Sisters in Lancashire. That’s probably the most authentic driving experience that we’ve uncovered so far.

But whatever you decide to try, have fun and stay safe.

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