Charlotte Birchall
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Forget the socks this Father’s Day and give your dad the ultimate driving experience! From off-roading in a four-by-four to tackling to the F1 track, there’s a gift idea for every petrol-head.
Whether you’re celebrating a partner, father, stepfather or just a brilliant person in your life, as long as they love getting behind a wheel, the following ideas are sure to get their hearts revving like a racing car.
We’ve picked our three favourites, that range from the sublime to the rather ridiculous. All you have to do is work out which one Daddy-dearest will enjoy the most!
1. Aston Martin Driving Experience
The name’s Bond. James Bond. If those words sum up your father figure, then this is the experience for him! Indulge his inner Roger Moore with the opportunity to slip behind the wheel of a quintessentially British Aston Martin.
With prices starting at an eye-watering £1500, you’d expect a first-rate experience, and you won’t be disappointed. The Aston Martin Driving Experience is definitely bang for your buck, with the chance to hit the road in your choice of car from a Vantage, DB1, DBS, or DBX. Not too shabby.
Drivers are offered one-to-one tuition from expert instructors with the opportunity to develop their driving skills whilst experiencing the superior performance and handling capacity of the iconic Aston Martin.
If Dad is in your good books and you’re thinking of splashing out on him this year, your money will get you 4 hours of exquisite driving time with your personal instructor, a welcome and safety briefing, a lunch, and hospitality in the prestigious Aston Martin Clubhouse.
Exploding pens and ejector seats not included. More’s the pity.
2. Land Rover Experience Drives
Perfect for the adventurous papas out there, the world’s best loved four-by-four manufacturer offers a range of tantalizing off road experiences that are guaranteed to get your pulse racing.
The standard UK based package comes with three levels of driving fun – starting with a half day experience from £225 per person. Drivers are given the chance to develop their skills, gain a greater understanding of vehicle control, including obstacle handling and how to assess different environments. Those wanting a more immersive affair can opt for a full day session, with prices starting at £325 per driver.
If negotiating steep inclines, descents, side slopes and water crossings leaves you thirsty for more, those who have completed the full day course have the option to graduate on to the Advanced Experience. As grand as it sounds, this offering allows drivers to switch gear quite literally. The advanced course focuses on high and low range shift technique whilst moving across some of the UK’s most challenging terrain.
UK Land Rover experiences are available at nine locations across the country in Scotland, North Yorkshire, Liverpool, Cheshire, Solihull, Market Harborough, Eastnor, London, and Devon.
Feeling a little more daring? No problem.
Land Rover also offers the ultimate off-roading experience in the form of their Adventure Travel packages. Similar to the skill testing of the UK option, these premium experiences give drivers the chance to hone their 4x4 handling but in some of the world’s most challenging terrains. Choose from ice driving in Sweden, desert traversing in Sub-Saharan Africa, or navigating the highlands of Scotland.
3. Silverstone Driving Experience
Does your father fancy a spin in a supercar? Or have a burning desire to learn to drift? Is he a Formula 1 superfan? Then this is the Father’s Day gift of choice for the patriarch in your life.
As you’d expect from the home of all things Grand Prix, a day out driving at Silverstone is an experience not to be missed. It’s a must for those with a need for speed or really, anyone who has ever wanted to hit the hallowed track.
There is a plethora of options for budding Jenson Buttons ranging from getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari or Aston Martin to indulging in a head to head stand-off or learning stunt driving basics from the masters.
Sessions run in most weather conditions, providing it is safe on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between March and early November. Participants can drive on a variety of track configurations depending on your experience of choice. Prices start at just £129.
Adoring fans are very welcome at Silverstone and the good news is you can bring as many of them as you’d like. The only pre-requisite is that under sixteens are accompanied by an adult. So, assemble your cheerleading squad and head to the home of F1 for an experience like no other.
