Trackdays Guides: Track Days vs Driving Experiences - News

KEY POINTS

• Customers can book both own vehicle track days as well as driving experience vouchers at UK and European wide locations with Trackdays
• You can take your own car or bike out to a number of dedicated motorsport circuits including Silverstone, Brands Hatch and more
• You can also experience driving top of the range supercars and more at a number of different venues with a qualified instructor

Perhaps one of the most common customer queries we've had over the years is this one - aren't a track day and driving experience the same thing? The short answer is no. However, both are equally enjoyable, but there are some clear differences between the two that need to be established.

So in this guide blog, we're taking time to explore these differences, and explain what you can expect from both, whichever you decide to book with Trackdays - the UK's number one for both track days and driving experiences for over 20 years…

• What exactly is a track day?

An own vehicle track day - or just track day for short - is where you get the opportunity to bring either your own car or motorcycle to - and get the opportunity to drive it on - a real race track. This includes everything from track events to test days.

These take place at numerous different motorsport circuits and locations both right here in the UK, and also in mainland Europe. Some of the most popular and best known venues that host own car and bike track days include Silverstone, Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Oulton Park, Castle Combe and Thruxton.

Track day events attract a wide and varied crowd, from experienced enthusiasts and race licence holders, to those who are just trying it out for the first time. Either way, it's a fun way of seeing just what your vehicle is capable of under track conditions.

• Do I necessarily have to bring my own vehicle to a track day?

No - in fact, we also offer a number of both Track Day Car Hire and Bike Hire options, with a wide variety of track-spec vehicles ranging from an Ariel Atom to a GT variant Porsche Cayman and BMW M2 Competition.

The good thing about these track day packages is that almost all of them have everything included in the price - a full day's hire, delivery of the vehicle to the venue, fully comprehensive insurance, mechanical support, a spares package and a full tank of fuel.

So it's actually a great way to enjoy a track day without the stress and worry of prepping your own vehicle in advance of your event day - plus you get the opportunity to test drive a track-ready version of some incredible cars and bikes.

• What exactly is a driving experience?

A driving experience, on the other hand, is about getting the chance to drive certain cars and vehicles that you wouldn't normally drive every day. Many people love supercars, classic cars and rally cars, but they usually sit in a price bracket way beyond that of the average person's bank balance.

But whether it's a Ferrari 599, a rally spec Ford Focus Mk2 or even a vintage Jaguar E-Type, a driving experience will give you the opportunity to enjoy driving these highly desirable wheels under the guidance and tutelage of an expert driving instructor in a controlled, safe and relaxed environment.

Venues these experience vouchers are hosted at vary, but they cover not just conventional motorsports circuits, but also multipurpose venues and locations, ranging from airfields to showgrounds, whose open straights and corners are perfect for getting a feel of just what these incredible vehicles can do.

• Which is better: a track day or a driving experience?

That will entirely depend on what you're looking for. If you've dreamt of taking your set of hot wheels to enjoy driving them under track conditions on a bonafide circuit layout, or you're more of a racing enthusiast, then a track day will probably be more for you.

If however you want to enjoy driving sought after supercars, racing cars and more without incurring their high-end price tags with qualified, professional instructors, you'll probably want to book a driving experience instead. 

The good news is that most of these are very affordable in terms of price, with some available to book from less than £50 - and some don't even require you to hold a driving licence. Better still, there's weekday and weekend slots available to book on most of our experience vouchers.

Either way, both offer an exciting and hopefully enjoyable day out that will sit in the memory for a long time to come. Our general advice would be to always make sure you carefully read through any important information and terms and conditions before you make your booking. 

And if you need any additional support, you're always welcome to contact our Customer Service team. They have an incredible amount of experience and knowledge as well as good contact with our network of suppliers, so will always be happy to help.

Get started today and book either your next Own Car or Own Bike Track Day or Driving Experiences with dates on our regularly updated Events Calendars!