For most people the closest they come to New York Fake driver’s license a Formula 1 car is when they load a copy of Formula 1 into their Xbox or PS3, get comfortable on the sofa and give their thumbs a good workout in front of the television. However, if you’re in the UK, there is a way you can get behind the wheel of a real ex Formula 1 car, with a Formula 1 driving experience at the Three Sisters Race Circuit.
Your day will start when you arrive at the circuit at 8.30 with registration followed by Coffee and breakfast. Once your tank is full, it’s straight into a sports saloon driven by a professional instructor who will drive for five familiarisation laps to show you the racing lines and to pass on his intimate knowledge of the track. Straight after your familiarisation laps it’s off for a detailed briefing on safety and high-speed driving techniques. Now the technical stuff is out of the way it’s time to hone your driving skills as you take to the wheel of a sports saloon for 10 laps with driving analysis from a professional racing driver.
With the analysis completed, the real experience begins. First up is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, swiftly followed by the outstanding Ferrari 360 Modena, for both of these drives your professional race instructor is right by your side, offering advice and encouraging you to get the most out of these fantastic cars.
Having completed your supercar drives it’s time to leave your instructor on the pit wall as you strap yourself in to a single seater racing car for ten laps behind a pace car. This session gives you the opportunity to build your confidence as these cars have no traction control, no ABS and no space for an instructor to sit beside you. Following your ten lap session behind the pace car, it’s now up to you as you take your next session in the single seater with no pace car.
Lunch over and it’s time to get your helmet back on as the power increases in the form of a Formula 3 RALT RT30/32. It may only have 165 bhp, but this is only a step away from Formula 1. Extremely light and nimble, the F3 car accelerates from 0 – 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds and if you keep your foot firmly planted will top out at 150 mph. After ten laps with no pace car you will be grinning from ear to ear with the anticipation of the next drive in a real ex Formula 1 racing car.
With everything you have learned cartwheeling through your head it’s now time for you to get strapped in to either a 3 Litre Nicholson Mclaren Cosworth V8 or Judd KV 3 Litre ex Formula 1 car, that were previously driven by Luca Badoer and Aguri Suzuki. With 600 bhp at your disposal through a 6 speed manual sequential gearbox, the next ten miles are the things that dreams are made of.
After your experience afternoon tea and a certificate presentation follow, where you can share your experience with your fellow racers. It doesn’t end there though, overnight accommodation and dinner for two close to the racetrack are all part and parcel of your Formula 1 driving experience.
The Formula 1 driving experience is available at the Three Sisters Race Circuit, Wigan, Lancashire. All drivers must have held a full driving licence for a minimum of three years.
