Best Car Manufacturer Track Days and Experiences
07th Dec 2021
Full Potential
Track days and off-road driving courses enable you to experience the full potential of modern performance and off-road vehicles, in a safe and controlled environment.
In recent years, car manufacturers have seen this as an opportunity to show off their latest performance and SUV vehicles, allowing existing and potential customers the chance to really get a feel for what these high-end vehicles are truly capable of.
Here we have rounded up a list of some of the best track days and off-road experiences put on by major manufacturers represented by Stratstone, from the likes of Aston Martin, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.
Porsche Experience Centre Silverstone
With such a rich heritage in motorsport, Porsche are keener than most to provide on-track experiences for potential and existing customers, so much so that they have their own dedicated centre at Silverstone, the home of British motorsport.
The state-of-the-art facility offers many different driving tracks and experiences, which test different areas of driver skill, including a handling circuit where you can test the agility Porsche cars are famed for, as well as the Ice Hill and Kick Plate which will test your own abilities in extreme low-grip scenarios.
There are multiple packages on offer, allowing you to experience everything from the mid-engined 718 Cayman and Boxster, right up to the incredible 700bhp 991 Gen II GT2 RS. You can even book a two-day Road to Race experience which allows for you to not only get behind the wheel of a Cayman GT4, but also become a racing driver for the day as you also get to test the Cayman GT4 Clubsport race car too.
Mercedes-Benz World
There are a huge range of models in the Mercedes-Benz lineup, so it is fitting that there is a vast number of different driving experiences to choose from at the incredible Mercedes-Benz World, located in Surrey.
On the track, you can get to grips with both the Mercedes-AMG C 43 (3.0-litre V6 Biturbo) or Mercedes-AMG C 63 (4.0-litre V8 Biturbo), as well as the Mercedes-AMG GT.
Off-road driving can be completed too, allowing you to test the world-renowned G-Class.
This place is a must for any Mercedes-Benz or Mercedes-AMG fanatic as when you are done with your experience, there are plenty more cool things to do and take a look at that will delight any Mercedes-Benz, F1 or general car enthusiast.
BMW Driving Experiences
BMW is yet another manufacturer who love to showcase their incredible selection of performance cars, and who can blame them, after all, the M in BMW M stands for motorsport.
Their experience days take place at the legendary Goodwood motor racing circuit and include multiple BMW and MINI models to get behind the wheel of on the two-and-a-half-mile circuit, along with skid pan activities and hot laps.
BMW also offer packages with PalmerSport too, allowing for up to 72 guests to experience enhanced cars such as the BMW M2 Competition on a number of technical tracks at their special Bedford Autodrome HQ, which is described as a 'Motorsport Paradise'.
These packages are ideal for BMW/MINI owners and enthusiasts alike.
Land Rover Experience Drives
Land Rover are world-famous for their off-road ability. Steep hills, muddy paths, even rivers - Land Rover's product range can tackle them all, and now you can too.
There are 9 Experience Centres in the UK where you can get behind the wheel and take on the rough stuff, plus 20 more around the world if you fancy travelling further afield. There are taster days available, as well as half day and full day experiences.
Full day experiences let you navigate water, low traction surfaces, side-slopes and rock crawls, as well as inclines and descents - all under the guidance of a professional instructor of course.
With models such as the Range Rover and Discovery in the line-up, it is a truly memorable experience that is a little bit different to on-track alternatives mentioned previously.
Aston Martin Silverstone Experience
Aston Martin offer you the chance to experience the legendary Silverstone circuit behind the wheel of a new Vantage. This is the home of the Aston Martin Vehicle Dynamics team and is where all future vehicles are developed, along with being the home of the Aston Martin F1 team.
Like many manufacturers, there are plenty of models you can drive and varying levels of experiences to choose from. As with many of these brands, you will be treated very well with exciting hot laps with an instructor thrown in, as well as fine hospitality that includes lunch and refreshments.
The experience also gives you an insight into what goes on behind the scenes of the development work that takes place on each and every Aston Martin model.
Enjoy these cars on the road too with Stratstone
Whether you are a fan of a particular brand already, or you are looking to try something new, the good news is that car manufacturers are embracing the desire to push their products to the limits with these experiences that will surely last long in the memory.
And, after you have experienced these incredible cars on-track, or off-road, why not make more memories by owning an example yourself. With many new and used quality examples available via our network of retailers, finding your perfect Aston Martin, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz or Porsche could be closer than you think. We also have many other exciting brands amongst our portfolio too.